The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a bill which seeks to institutionalize youth empowerment and development in Anambra State.
The bill titled, “Anambra Youth Development Commission and Empowerment Bill, Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and other Related Matters”, was passed during plenary in Awka yesterday.
The legislation which is now headed to the Governor’s desk seeks to establish a Youth Development and Empowerment Commission, that will provide solutions to the myriads of challenges confronting the youths in Anambra State.
The Commission is designed to have the responsibility of articulating and implementing sustainable empowerment and development programs for the state government that is designed to create job opportunities for the youths in the state.
Areas like enterprise and entrepreneurship development, technical and vocational education training, skill acquisition, making youth related public institutions and facilities work, leveraging the entertainment and sports industry, Go-to-Farm policy, ICT training, giving soft loans to SMEs, providing funds for setups and other empowerment programs will be focused.
This will technically reduce anti-social vices such as armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing, prostitution and cultism.
To make the commission more effective, the commission will be managed by professionals especially from the private sector with representatives from government ministries and agencies.
Reacting to the passage of the bill by the state assembly, the sponsor of the bill and member representing Nnewi North State Constituency in the state assembly, Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor stated that he was hopeful that the bill would be signed into law by the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, “as this will better position Anambra youths for continued greatness in the economic scheme of Nigeria and complement the efforts of the state government towards improving the social-economic status of Anambra State.”
Okafor said, “I am delighted to announce that my bill which seeks to institutionalize youth empowerment and development in Anambra State, was passed today, Thursday, August 13th, 2020, during plenary, in Anambra State House of Assembly.
“It will be recalled that within weeks of my inauguration into the Anambra State House of Assembly, as part of my continued advocacy for the prioritization of institutional and deliberate policy towards youth development and empowerment, I sponsored a bill titled “Anambra Youth Development Commission and Empowerment Bill, Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and other Related Matters.”
“After months of debates and reviews, the House in the knowledge that there is a need for a strategic vision, well-tailored policy framework and institution for youth development in order to address the problems of youth unemployment, graciously passed the bill.
“My appreciation goes to the indefatigable Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Victor Okafor and my wonderful colleagues for ensuring the passage of this bill, against all odds.”
Photo: Member representing Nnewi North State Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor.
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