The effort of the Dr Okezie Ikpeazu led administration has yielded more fruits at the Niger Delta Youth Employment Pathways Project Close Out Workshop Event which held today in the Graden City of PortHarcourt.
The NDYEP PROJECT was two-year collaboration between Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and Ford Foundation which was set up to contribute to addressing the critical issue of youth unemployment in the Niger Delta.
32 out of the 80 finalists who won grants at the PIND and Ford Foundation backed NYDEP Business Plan Challenge were businesses run by Youths based in Abia State.
While handing out the Cheques the Deputy Director of PIND Mr Tunji Idowu gave special praise to participants from Abia who made up 40% of the grant winners. In his words Abia has become the Entrepreneurial Capital of West Africa.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Abia Marketing and Quality Management Agency Barrister Sam Hart conveyed the Governor’s appreciation to PIND and the Ford Foundation for their commitment towards bettering the lives of Youths in the Niger Delta region. He assured PIND of the continued support of the Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration towards the implementation of their programs in the state.
Mr Endi Ezengwa the Director General of the Education for Employment Agency re-echoed Barrister Sam Hart’s words of appreciation for the Development partners while also urging them to continue programs geared towards improving the employability of youths in the region.
To cap a great day at the event, the permanent secretary of the ministry of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and Development Mr Nkwachukwu Agomoh also won an award for his outstanding work with the ministry.
Chinyere Akataobi
HOD, Corporate Affairs
Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency.
