The Anambra State Government is to establish the Anambra Innovation Centre so as to provide the opportunity for smart tech-heads with bright ideas to explore their potentials.
Gov. Willie Obiano disclosed this during the Anambra Technical and Creativity Day held in Awka.
The state technical and creativity event was put together by the State Ministry of Youths Empowerment and Creative Economy in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Education, followed series of competitions and contests among various applicants across the areas of technovation, script writing, acting, music and dancing.
In the end, winners emerged and were at the ceremony, presented with cheques for various sums by Gov. Obiano.
The Government Technical Colleges in the State had also the opportunity to exhibit the various creative crafts done by their students including furniture, sports equipment, building accessories, modernized cooking equipment and robot as well as confectionery.
Gov. Obiano in his remarks said the state government will sponsor seven persons including government and non-government officials to understudy the Cambridge Innovation Centre, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston to enable his administration replicate the system in the State.
He revealed that the reason his government made education in the technical colleges free since his inception of office, was to give vent to the creative tendencies of Anambra youths who he said are highly productive and creative.
The governor noted that in keeping with his administration’s resolve to adequately empower youths, it will continue to support the efforts of both Ministries that have great prospects for youths’ empowerment.
The Commissioner for Youths Empowerment and Creative Economy, Mr. Bonaventure Enemali said the integration of the creative economy in his Ministry, has opened up a new dimension in government’s efforts to effectively address the challenges facing the youths, adding that they are also collaborating with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to fully realize their mandate of discovering, developing and deploying talents in youths.
On her part, the Basic Education Commissioner, Prof. Kate Omenugha said the collaboration between the two Ministries was in keeping with the State government’s vision of availing Anambra Children, education that is globally competitive.
She noted that through the governor’s intervention, twenty-six trade subjects have received full accreditation in the technical colleges in the State.
Some of the students, Master Churchill Iwuala from GTC, Onitsha and Miss Ifeoma Aguiyi from GTC, Enugwu Agidi while expressing appreciation for the opportunity created for them to develop their talents, appealed to the State government to assist their colleges with equipment and funds to enable them practice what they were taught.
The winner in the acting category, 14-year old Miss Christabelle Ezenekwe who got the sum of N500,000 thanked the state Governor for the encouragement, admitting it will help her further her education and acting career.
The event also featured the unveiling of the Anambra Young Innovators, a group of youths with ideas on how to provide solutions through technology as well as the Anambra Youths Art Group.
Source: Kingsley Ezekwelu
