Mrs. Ugwuanyi partners Gazelle Vocational Youth Empowerment Academy to reduce unemployment, criminal activities

The wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, has charged the youths to avail themselves of the opportunity in the available skill acquisition centres in the country and become self reliant in their endeavours. Mrs. Ugwuanyi made the call yesterday while flagging-off a six-day youth empowerment programme organized by the Gazzelle Vocational Youth Empowerment development in partnership with Fidelity Bank Plc and Industrial Training Fund (ITC) at Nsukka. Addressing the participants and the organizers of the programme at University of Nigeria Nsukka, venue of the event, Mrs. Ugwuanyi observed that youth unemployment has continued to rise,  a situation she described as dangerous following the vices associated with it. She explained that the call had become necessary as these skill acquisition centres when embraced would enthrone successful artisans, entrepreneurs and consultants in the areas of fashion designing, agriculture, welding, catering, cosmetic/soap making, black-smiting, tie and dye among others which she noted were in line with her pet project. The governor’s wife enjoined corporate organizations, NGO’s and good spirited philanthropists to engage the nation’s youth and job seekers in meaningful activities that would make them self reliance and eschew vices in the society, urging the participants to be more dedicated. Speaking on the occasion,  the deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Chukwuma Ogbonna described the university as a pace setter in education, adding that, the programme was designed to improve the lives of the students and participants alike. Prof Ogbonna explained that the Vocational Academy would enable the school produce graduates that would compete with their counterparts world over, noting that the university family would do everything within its power to empower its students and advised them to make proper use of the opportunities. Speaking, the Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Enugu and Ebonyi States, Mr. Leo Ezugwu disclosed that his bank came to partner with Gazzelle Academy to take off the programme, noting that Fidelity Bank is always interested in human oriented business programmes towards the development of the society. He noted that the bank always funds and encourages genuine organizations instituted to commence meaningful programmes. The founder and the initiator of the Gazzelle Academy Vocational Centre, Mrs. Muna Onuzo said that the programme was put in place to extend hands of fellowship with Her Excellency and the university community towards empowering the undergraduates in the areas of agriculture, catering, makeup/cosmetics, ICT, hospitality, fashion designing among others.

Culled from: The Citizen Ng