Abia State is set to double its investment in youth empowerment, with Governor Alex Otti announcing plans to expand a flagship fashion skills programme from 4,000 to 8,000 beneficiaries.
The move follows the graduation of 4,000 trainees from Cohorts 3 and 4 of the Fashion Future Programme (FFP) at Enyimba International Stadium on Wednesday. The initiative is run by Ethnocentrique Limited and the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with the Abia State Government.
Speaking at the event, Gov. Otti said the state would meet soon with Ethnocentrique and the Mastercard Foundation to expand the programme from 4,000 to about 8,000 beneficiaries. He also thanked Ejibe for the initiative.
“This is one of the ways to engage our youth,” Otti said. “This is one of the ways to ensure that unemployment is reduced, poverty level is reduced, the gross domestic product is increased and, in the long run, the internally generated revenue of the government is increased.
“Thank you for igniting belief back in the minds of our young people, for giving them the platform to carry their dreams forward.
“May we also use this opportunity to convey our gratitude to the National Board for Technical Education for providing the technical guidance for the FFP through its skills qualification framework.”
The governor described the Fashion Future Programme as a model for developing human capacity beyond short-term handouts.
“The successful graduation of our sons and daughters from the Fashion Future Programme, delivered by Ethnocentrique Limited with support from the Mastercard Foundation and the state government, is a landmark achievement,” he said.
“This initiative has proven to be a masterclass in talent incubation, business development and enterprise exposure. I am impressed with the structure, organisation and the hands-on delivery model.
“The most interesting thing for us is that the FFP represents a preferred empowerment outlook, which targets the holistic development of the human faculties, expanding the capacity of individuals to imagine, create and bring forth new ideas.”
