The World Bank is to provide $
300m empowerment fund for
youths in Akwa Ibom State and
some parts of the country.
The fund is aimed at developing
farming and small-scale
industries in all the beneficiary
states.
The Sector Leader, Human
Development, World Bank, Prof.
Foluso Okunmadewa, explained
in a statement made available in
Uyo on Thursday that the bank
approved the $300m
intervention fund for youth
empowerment programme to
fulfil a request by the Federal
Ministry of Finance.
Okunmadewa, who spoke with
Akwa Ibom State Governor
Godswill Akpabio during a
courtesy visit, said, “Recently, The
World Bank through the request
of the Federal Ministry of Finance
has approved a $300m
intervention for youth
empowerment.
And I know youth empowerment
is extremely important in your
administration. I can tell you that
based on the insistence of the
Country Director of The World
Bank, Akwa Ibom is one of the
states expected to benefit from
this.”
Okunmadewa, who was
accompanied by other World
Bank officials, said they had
mobilised Zonal Managers in-
charge of Community Social
Development Project (CSDP) from
26 states of the federation,
including the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja for The World
Bank/Joint CSDP Review
Management meeting in Uyo.
He added that there were many
youths both in the rural areas
and in Uyo that needed to be
empowered.
He said the World Bank was
willing and ready to collaborate
with Akwa Ibom State for youth
empowerment.
He commended the state
government for partnering The
World Bank, particularly in
human development, health
sector, and education.
“I am here principally to
appreciate your partnership with
The World Bank, particularly in
the area of human development.
Human development activities of
the World Bank clearly
complement your transformation
agenda that has been widely
regarded as uncommon,” he
noted.
In his response, Akpabio thanked
The World Bank for partnering
the state on human capacity
development.
He advised the bank to focus
their development attention on
the state.
He added, “There is a lot of
problem at the shoreline of Akwa
Ibom State.
I am excited about the youth
empowerment programme of
The World Bank and our state
would be very delighted to take
part in it. Youths of the Niger
Delta are so many and need to be
empowered.
“Our own is a little bit sad
because this is a civil service
state and we are trying to lay
foundation for future
industrialisation.
“Other states are lucky to have
industries, factories and all that.
So, they have various means of
employment but here we don’t
have.”
Akpabio instructed the
Commissioner of Finance to
immediately release the pending
N300m counterpart funding to
the bank to enable the state to
benefit from other World Bank-
assisted projects.
He assured the bank of the
continuous support of the
people of the state and
government in its effort to
alleviate the sufferings of
Nigerians.

GOOD DEVELOPMENT

well most of these world bank empowerment, always end up empowering the supervisors account

hope they will not eat the cake

If u think this is for u as an ordinary youth, then u can believe anything? Let's see how it's unfolded.