1Y2SS: Anambra Hitting Bulls’ Eye In Economic Transformation Through Youths’ Empowerment, Says Frontline Monarch
By Chuka Nnabuife
Empowerment of the youth is the best way forward for Nigeria. It holds the key to enduring social and economic development of local communities, states and the federal government. Given this, Anambra State government has been applauded for her youth empowerment program, the ‘1 Youth 2 Skills Solution’ (1Y2SS) which has evolved into its second phase.
Traditional ruler of Ifitedunu community in Dunukofia Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State, His Majesty Igwe Chukwuemekalum Ilounoegbunam has hailed the 1Y2SS as not only innovative but directly impactful on the development of the state.
The monarch, a veteran physician and philanthropist commended the government of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo for the youth empowerment project which he reasoned will not only arm Anambra’s young people with the skills they require for survival and success in life but create a general employment that would boost the economy.
Dr. Ilounoegbunam also noted that the ideas behind 1Y2SS which necessitate the acquisition of at least two productive skills by Anambra youths would ensue enduring solutions to insecurity and youth restiveness through provision of jobs and fostering a culture of productivity.
“The ‘One Youth Two Skills Solution’ idea,” the frontline monarch appraised, “is a very commendable initiative. It is actually the catalyst that Nigeria needs at this moment to radically reawaken her economy. People may not note but it is such a youth empowerment initiative that the Igbo people of the defunct Biafra area used after their loss of the Nigeria (versus) Biafra civil war which left everyone (of the former Biafrans) without money.
“What the Igbo people did was to look inward. Everyone who had a skill or means shared with his brother and empowered him. That was how the little we had then, passed from hand to hand. And everybody had. That is the secret of Igbos survival after the Biafra war debacle.
“A program of empowerment that passes skills from one hand to the other too, is a winner, any day. That is the secret of Igbo wealth and vast business success.”
He said he identifies with the 1Y2SS which the Ministry of Youth Development of Anambra State organises because of his assurance that, if sustained and well implemented, it will transform the society. He added that as a traditional ruler, he runs a similar youths’ empowerment scheme, focused on agriculture and ICT in his kingdom, periodically.
The scholarly king who disclosed that it was the value he saw in such programs that made him establish vast farm settlements and built ICT centres for training of youngsters with interest said he has observed the positive impacts of such initiatives.
“It is because of this that I keyed into the ongoing (1Y2SS) exercise, to train and empower more youths,” he added.
He therefore commended the Patrick Agha Mba-led Anambra State’s Ministry of Youth Development for the 1Y2SS and urged its sustainance.
The 1Y2SS is a youth empowerment initiative of Gov. Soludo’s administration. Currently in its second phase, the first phase which trained, equipped and financed 5000 youths kicked off in 2023 with a two billion naira seed fund provided by the Governor. Through the program, Anambra youths are trained and funded to run small and medium scale businesses as well as given entrepreneurship trainings by experts and business schools. The ongoing second phase aspires to train and empower over 10,000 youths, drawn from all the 21 LGAs of the state. Areas of skill covered by the orientations comprise creative industry, ICT, fashion, film making, interior design, auto mechanics, carpentry, dairy farming, crop farming, fishery, food processing, catering services, electrical installations, marine vehicles servicing, building and construction among others. In the new phase there is also a special training option for young Anambra citizens who want to be trained in trading and merchandising (business apprenticeship) best known as ‘Igba Boyi’ — the system of training and recruitment of young traders which the Igbo people has used to sustain their merchandising and commerce culture early 20th Century, particularly, after the ill-fated Nigeria, Biafra war in 1970.
