Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has commenced the disbursement of funds to beneficiaries of the One-Youth-Two-Skills Plus empowerment programme in Awka North and Awka South Local Government Areas of the state, a move designed at enhancing youth-led businesses and entrepreneurship.

In Awka North LGA, beneficiaries received their startup funds at an event in Achalla, supervised by the Managing Director of the Anambra State Social and Civic Reformation Office, Chuka Nnabuife.

Similarly, in Awka South, the exercise was coordinated by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, Emeka Omata, who urged recipients to utilise the funds judiciously and apply their acquired skills toward business growth and career advancement.

Among the beneficiaries were Nkechi Menkiti, trained in bakery and confectionery, who received N380,000; Nkemjika Udegbunam and Ejike Olutum, both trained in rice farming and processing, who received N350,000 each. In Awka South, beneficiaries included Chimaoge Enekwechi from Nise, Antonia Onyemobi from Imo State, and Chisom Onyekwuba, all of whom have successfully used their acquired skills to establish small businesses and create local employment.

The disbursement follows Governor Soludo’s approval of a ₦3.5 billion startup grant for over 8,300 graduates of the empowerment programme, announced during their graduation ceremony last month.

Commending the initiative, the State Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Aghamba, described the project as transformational and a clear demonstration of the governor’s commitment to youth empowerment. The Chairman of the scheme, Prof Chinedu Onyeizugbe, reported a 48 percent increase in participation and urged scholars and young people across the state to embrace the programme as a model for sustainable growth.

Under Soludo’s administration, several innovation and capacity-building initiatives—such as the One-Youth-Two-Skills Programme, Code Anambra digital training, and the One Million Digital Tribe project—have been launched to equip young people with relevant technical, vocational, and digital skills. Graduates from these schemes have also received laptops and employment support to enhance productivity and self-reliance.