Skill-Up South East Programme Empowers 100 Youths with Vocational Tools, Start-Up Capital in Abakaliki
By Vincent Onyema
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), led by Chioma Nweze, has empowered 100 young people under the Skill-Up South East Empowerment and Development Programme with vocational tools, certificates, and start-up funds to support small business creation.
The beneficiaries, drawn from 95 local government areas across the five South-East states, graduated at a ceremony held on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Ebonyi State Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
The event attracted government officials, development partners, community leaders, youth groups, and members of the public, and was described as a celebration of entrepreneurship, skills development, and grassroots empowerment.
According to Nweze, the programme was designed to promote sustainable economic growth in the South East by equipping young people with practical vocational skills and entrepreneurial training to reduce unemployment and expand small-scale enterprise.
She explained that the initiative goes beyond technical training by incorporating financial literacy and business development components, ensuring beneficiaries are prepared not only to acquire skills but also to run viable businesses.
Each graduate received a sewing machine, certificate of completion, and start-up capital, which she said was intended to bridge the gap between training and actual business establishment. She added that “skill without business sense is poverty in fine clothes,” stressing the importance of combining competence with entrepreneurship.
Nweze also highlighted ongoing Federal Government interventions in the region under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including infrastructure projects and regional development initiatives aimed at boosting economic activity.
She listed key projects such as the reconstruction of major federal roads including the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway, Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, Umuahia–Aba Road, Onitsha–Owerri Road, Abakaliki–Afikpo Road, as well as flyover projects in Ndibe Beach and Oferekpe.
She also referenced other interventions under her office, including a free medical outreach conducted in partnership with the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences and the Ebonyi State Government, offering services such as cancer screening, eye care, and dialysis support.
Speaking at the event, keynote speaker Dr. Mark Abani emphasized the importance of vocational education and entrepreneurship in addressing unemployment and poverty, urging beneficiaries to make effective use of the opportunity.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, was represented at the ceremony and commended the initiative for complementing government efforts toward youth empowerment and economic inclusion.
In her goodwill message, the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Uzoamaka Mary-Maudline Ogbonna Nwifuru, encouraged the beneficiaries to remain disciplined and focused as they build sustainable livelihoods.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, praised the programme, describing it as a practical expression of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the South East, and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to continued infrastructure development in the region.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by notable Nollywood personalities including Monalisa Chinda, Happy Julian, Eve Esin, Francis Duru, Mike Ezuruonye, and Jeri Amilo, who encouraged beneficiaries to pursue excellence and innovation.
As the graduates returned to their communities with tools, skills, and seed capital, stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen local economies, stimulate entrepreneurship, and create employment opportunities across the South East.
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