At the event held in Enugu Saturday, Comrade Okoh said the beneficiaries which were carefully selected by the council all have existing businesses and the grant is intended to help them expand and do better in their businesses.
“As the apex youth body in Enugu State, we’re always occupied on how best we can change the economic fortune of our youths and make them less dependent on handouts from politicians and disabuse their minds from going into crime.
“What we’ve done today was to put our words into action. We carefully selected the beneficiaries and each one of them you see here has an existing business because the grant is meant to support them and not to help anyone go into fresh business.”
He encouraged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the fund as that will be pivotal in the survival of the initiative.
In his remarks at the event held on the 3rd June, 2023, the immediate past Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon Manfred Nzekwe lauded the idea and thanked the leadership of Enugu Youth Council for doing something unusual for the Youths.
Similarly, the Chairman House Committee on Youths and Sports, Hon Chinedu Okwu, expressed happiness with the initiative and encouraged the youth body to continue on this path for the betterment of the youths in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries that spoke to our correspondent said it’s still like a dream as they never believed the grant was real.
“When I was told that I was chosen as one of the beneficiaries, I laughed it off because of my experience and what I’ve heard about so many youth leaders and youth organisations in Enugu state,” Nwobodo Pascal, one of the beneficiaries said.
“I’m a motor mechanic and this grant came at the right time for me because I’ve so many tools I wish to have that will help my work. With this money, I will be able to get some of them and this will increase my output and at the end, give me more money.”
Another beneficiary, Agu Ethel Nancy who’s a dentist said the grant is an answered prayer as it will compliment her savings and enable her get some needed equipments to be able to offer home service without waiting for employment.
“I’ve always wanted to be on my own after my youth service but the money I saved during my NYSC can only get me few items, with this grant, it will help me get other basic equipments needed to set me up and I can’t thank Enugu National Youth Council enough.”
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of cheques to the 97 beneficiaries and presentation of award of recognition to Engr. Uzoh Ifeanyi C. C, MNSChE, MSPE (Africa Representative – United Nations SDG Youth International) for his contributions in the youth constituency. Journalist101.
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