Soludo empowers 8,300 Youths with N3.5bn digital skills grants
Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra State Governor, has disbursed N3.5 billion to 8,300 youths under his administration’s flagship digital empowerment initiative, One-Youth-Two-Skills Plus, reaffirming his commitment to building a digitally skilled and self-reliant generation.
The funds were handed out during a graduation and certification ceremony at the International Convention Centre, Awka, with beneficiaries drawn from within and outside the state.
Governor Soludo explained that the initiative, launched in October 2022, aligns with his campaign pledge to produce at least 1,000 millionaires in Anambra annually. He said the programme seeks to build a digitally driven economy by equipping young people with both skills and capital to become job creators rather than job seekers.
To sustain the scheme, the governor said his administration has provided additional financial support through the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA), which offers loans and grants to participants seeking to expand their ventures.
Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Aghamba, hailed the governor’s vision, describing the scheme as “a transformative milestone that is redefining youth empowerment in the state.”
He added that the second phase of the programme recorded a 48 per cent increase in participation compared to the first.
Chairman of the initiative, Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe, noted that One-Youth-Two-Skills Plus has become a model for economic inclusion and digital innovation, enabling participants to contribute meaningfully to state and national development.
The first cohort in 2023 saw 5,000 youths benefit from N2 billion in grants, with more than 1,000 graduates now running thriving businesses. Beneficiaries of the new phase testified that the training has enabled them to create jobs, particularly in the digital and creative sectors.
Beyond One-Youth-Two-Skills Plus, Governor Soludo’s youth development agenda also includes Code Anambra, focused on coding and tech training, and One Million Digital Tribe, designed to nurture entrepreneurs and freelancers. Graduates of these programmes were rewarded with laptops, seed funding, and job placements to enhance productivity.
In a related development, the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) recently approved new training and a code of conduct for law enforcement officers to improve professionalism and efficiency.
Law Mefor, Commissioner for Information, said the decision reflects Soludo’s broader vision of building a livable and secure homeland anchored on innovation, skill, and discipline.
