Gov Ikpeazu Lauds Unubiko Founder For Empowering Abia Youths

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has renewed his calls for well-to-do citizens of the state to become more involved in the government’s quest to create jobs and empower youths in the state with skills.

Dr Ikpeazu made the call while flagging off a youth empowerment programme on digital and leadership skills organised by the UNUBIKO Foundation in Umuahia, the Abia state capital.

The training, tagged #CodeCamp, came as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the International Youth Day 2020.

The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr A.C.B Agbazuere, said that his government was happy to be part of the empowerment programme.

Ikpeazu commended the founder of the UNUBIKO Foundation, Mr. James Ume, who hails from Abam in Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, for his relentless efforts to make life better for the people of the state.

The governor recalled that Ume was one of the first sons of Abia to distribute palliatives to the people of the state when the coronavirus (COVID-19) first broke out in the country.

He noted that through his UNUBIKO Foundation, Ume had distributed over 1,000 bags of rice to Abia communities and groups, including the Abia State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Ikpeazu, therefore, called on more well-meaning Abia citizens to emulate Ume’s philanthropic gestures to the needy in the state as the government could not do it alone.

The governor further reiterated that what Ume was doing in the state aligned with his administration’s policy directive in education, adding that the Education for Employment (E4E) programme of the State Government was targeted at the youths.

While calling on beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity that the training programme offers, Ikpeazu noted that the 2020 International Youth Day was another opportunity for youths in the state to rededicate themselves to working hard to achieve their set goals in life.

Earlier, the representative of Mr James Ume and Coordinator, Unubiko Foundation, Dr Benjamin Usani and the Managing Partner of DERASOFT Consulting, Mr Young Ozogwu, disclosed that the six-week programme aimed to equip youths to compete favourably in the digital world, adding that 20 successful candidates would be given a laptop each as part of their training tools.

Responding, some of the beneficiaries including Mr Ikenna Balogu, Miss Favour Onwubuiko and Mr Okoro Uchenna, among others, appreciated Ume for his numerous philanthropic gestures as well as having the interest of Abia youths at heart while also promising to take the training seriously.

The flag-off of #CodeCamp attracted top government officials who presented the brand new HP laptops to the 20 shortlisted candidates.