The Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area and Deputy Chairman of ALGON, Enugu State, Barr. Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, has officially flagged off Phase II of the Igbo-Eze South Youth Empowerment Programme at St. Mary’s Agro Institute, Udi.
The initiative is a deliberate and strategic component of the Mayor’s Progress Agenda, with human capital development firmly at the fulcrum of his administration’s vision for Igbo-Eze South.
For Mayor Ukwueze, governance is not only about physical infrastructure but also about investing in the people, equipping them with relevant skills and creating opportunities that can translate into sustainable livelihoods and economic independence.
Through this six-month intensive agro-training programme, passionate youths from Igbo-Eze South are being exposed to modern agricultural techniques, practical farming methodologies, entrepreneurship, value-chain opportunities and contemporary approaches to agricultural production.
The objective is clear: to empower our youths to move beyond dependency, embrace agriculture as a viable economic venture and become active contributors to the agricultural transformation of Igbo-Eze South and Enugu State.
Agriculture remains one of the most important pathways to economic growth, food security, employment creation and wealth generation. By deliberately positioning our youths within this sector, the administration is laying the foundation for a generation that can create businesses, generate employment and add measurable value to the local economy.
While addressing the beneficiaries, Mayor Ukwueze charged them to approach the six-month training with seriousness, discipline, hard work and resilience. He reminded them that they are not merely beneficiaries of a government intervention but ambassadors of Igbo-Eze South and representatives of a new generation whose success will reflect the quality of investment made in them today.
He further encouraged them to take full advantage of the opportunity, acquire the necessary skills, remain committed throughout the training and return to their communities equipped not only to improve their own lives but also to create value, inspire others and contribute meaningfully to grassroots development.
As the beneficiaries depart for St. Mary’s Agro Institute, Udi, today to commence the next phase of this intensive training, they do so with the assurance that their journey will not end with the acquisition of skills. At the end of the six-month programme, the beneficiaries will also be provided with start-up grants to enable them translate the knowledge and skills acquired into practical agricultural ventures and sustainable livelihoods.
The programme is another practical demonstration of the Mayor’s belief that the greatest resource of any society is its people. When young people are properly equipped, empowered and given the right opportunities, they become drivers of development rather than spectators of it which aligns seamlessly with the broader development vision of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whose administration continues to prioritise human capital development, youth empowerment, agricultural productivity, economic expansion and inclusive grassroots development across Enugu State.
The partnership between the local government’s Progress Agenda and the transformative vision of the state government is creating a stronger platform for our people; particularly our youths to acquire the knowledge, skills and opportunities required to participate actively in the emerging economy.
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