By Okwy Odunze
The Government of Anambra State has signed a Trust Agreement with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO), on behalf of the for the implementation of the Learning Initiative For Entrepreneurs (LIFE) programme in the state.
The programme which will be implemented in 41 Senior Secondary Schools across the three senatorial zones of the state, will see UNIDO contribute $400,000 US dollars while the State Government will bring $150, 000 US dollars.
The agreement came on the heels of several representations made by the governor from the inception of his administration three years ago to the Organization asking for a robust partnership that would help to bring out entrepreneurial best of the Anambra youths.
Signing the agreement at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Gov Obiano expressed contentment that the partnership he had worked assiduously actualize over the years had eventually come to fruition, saying that the partnership was at the heart of his strategic plan for human capital development in the state.
According to him, the thrust of his administration is to ensure that upon completion of its eight-year tenure, over 90 percent of Anambra youths would be gainfully engaged either by being job creators through its numerous skill acquisition programmes or by being employed by the numerous investments that his regime has continued to attract.
The governor also expressed hope that when it becomes fully operational the programme would help solve the challenges of youth restiveness and involvement in crime that is induced by unemployment.
Responding to the governor’s comments, the UNIDO Representative to ECOWAS and West African Regional Director of the Organization, Mr Jean Bakoli explained that under the LIFE programme, 200 teachers in the selected schools would be trained to drive its objective, which is to upgrade the skills of the young students, entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises to be able to create and develop businesses through IT skills.
He further remarked that UNIDO decided to come to Anambra State after observing the vision of the Governor towards transforming the State’s education sector and expressed the hope that the initiative would form the basis for other gainful partnerships between UNIDO and Anambra State.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Omenugha observed that the initiative was consistent with the Education for Employment vision of the Obiano administration and further explained that UNIDO is also expected to develop the curriculum of the selected schools and overflow the initiative to the informal sector in ensuring that youths that are not in school also benefit from the scheme.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Mr Mark Okoye acknowledged that the state government was practically living out its stance of doing more with less through its strategic partnerships with development partners in efforts to change the fortunes of the state.
Mr Okoye further revealed that UNIDO marks the fifth development partner which the Present administration had attracted in the state.