ONE YOUTH, TWO SKILLS (OYTS)

Empowering Anambra Youths through Dual-Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship: An Initiative of Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR , The Executive Governor of Anambra State Coordinated by Prince Nwankwo – Volunteer Coordinator, Federal Polytechnic, Oko Centre..!!

A. Project Overview:

The One Youth, Two Skills (OYTS) initiative, spearheaded by Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the executive Governor of Anambra State is a transformative youth empowerment programme in Anambra State. Launched in October 2022, the programme aims to equip youths with two marketable skills, fostering self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. By integrating traditional apprenticeship models with modern vocational training, OYTS addresses unemployment and promotes sustainable livelihoods among the youth.

B. Objectives

• Dual Skill Acquisition: Train youths in two complementary skills to enhance employability and entrepreneurial potential.
• Entrepreneurship Development: Foster a culture of self-employment and business ownership among participants.
• Economic Empowerment: Provide financial support and mentorship to help youths establish and grow their enterprises.
• Community Engagement: Encourage community-based development through cooperative formations and localized training centres.

C. Program Structure

The OYTS program is structured around five key pillars:

1. Apprenticeship Scheme: Participants undergo hands-on training in selected trades, drawing from the Igbo traditional apprenticeship system.
2. Entrepreneurial Skills Training: Comprehensive business education covering management, marketing, and financial literacy.
3. Formation of Cooperatives: Encouraging participants to form cooperatives for resource sharing, networking, and collective growth.
4. Business Financing Scheme: Provision of startup capital through grants to support business initiation and expansion.

D. Achievements

• Pilot Phase: Trained and empowered 5,000 youths across 21 local government areas with a ₦2 billion startup capital.
• Second Phase: Selected 8,620 participants from over 183,000 applicants, demonstrating the programme’s popularity and impact.
• Community Impact: Beneficiaries have formed the Solution Youth Preneurs Support Group (SYPSG), promoting peer support and advocacy.

E. Role of Engr. Prince at Federal Polytechnic, Oko

As the Coordinator of the OYTS program at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko center, Engr. Prince plays a crucial role in the programme’s implementation:

• Program Management: Oversees the day-to-day operations, ensuring adherence to the programme’s objectives and standards.
• Training Facilitation: Coordinates with trainers and mentors to deliver effective skill acquisition and entrepreneurial training.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Tracks participant progress, gathers feedback, and reports on outcomes to the programme director, who then reports to the state ministry.

F. Primary Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed by OYTS

 1. SDG 1: No Poverty

The OYTS programme combats poverty by equipping youths with marketable skills and startup support, enabling them to generate income and achieve financial independence.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

Though not formal education, the programme delivers vocational and entrepreneurial training, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

3. SDG 5: Gender Equality

The initiative is inclusive, with a significant number of female beneficiaries, promoting equal access to opportunities and empowering women through skill acquisition and entrepreneurship.

4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

By fostering entrepreneurship and job creation, OYTS contributes directly to sustainable economic growth and promotes productive employment for young people.

5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The program supports small-scale industrial development by training youths in trades like manufacturing, ICT, agro-processing, and technical vocations that stimulate local innovation and business development.

6. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

OYTS reduces inequality by targeting marginalized youths from various backgrounds and providing them with equal access to economic and skill-building opportunities.

7. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The programme thrives on partnerships with training institutions, private sector players, NGOs, and government agencies to deliver its impact, reflecting the spirit of SDG 17.

G. Conclusion

The One Youth, Two Skills (OYTS) initiative represents a significant stride in addressing youth unemployment and fostering economic development in Anambra State. Through strategic training, financial support, and mentorship, the programme empowers youths to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. The dedicated efforts of coordinators like Engr. Prince at centres such as the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, are instrumental in realizing the programme’s vision of transforming Anambra into a hub of skilled and empowered youths.

For video presentations of some of Prince’s technological innovations visit the link below: https://princetechfoundation.com/amb-prince-nwankwo Contact: Phone/WhatsApp: +2348063572001, E – mail: princetechfoundation@gmail.com  Website: www. princetechfoundation.com