Governor Chukwuma Soludo says Anambra has empowered over 36,000 youths through skills and grants under his youth-focused development agenda

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has disclosed that his administration has empowered more than 36,000 youths across the state with critical skills, Awka, Friday, January 24, 2026.

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He described young people as the most valuable asset of any society and central to sustainable development.

Professor Soludo made the disclosure at the swearing-in and opening ceremony of the 2026 Batch A Stream One National Youth Service Corps orientation programme held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nnamdi Azikiwe Unity Camp, Mbaukwu Umuawulu, Awka South Local Government Area.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Patrick Agha Mba, the governor said the youth-focused policies of the administration are anchored on Anambra Vision 2070, which seeks to build a prosperous, inclusive and smart society driven by innovation and productivity.

He said over 36,000 young people have already benefited from digital skills programmes, while the ongoing One Million Anambra Digital Tribe initiative targets the empowerment of one million youths with advanced digital competencies.

Professor Soludo noted that under the One Youth Two Skills Plus programme, the state has empowered 13,300 youths with vocational skills and disbursed grants worth N5.5 billion to support business start-ups and expansion, describing the intervention as a decisive investment in economic self-reliance.

He urged corps members deployed to the state to embrace the Anambra experience by learning, collaborating and contributing meaningfully to community development, rather than remaining passive observers throughout their service year.

The governor assured the corps members of the government’s commitment to continuously improving camp facilities to guarantee a safe, serene and enabling environment, while also urging respect for local culture, peacebuilding and responsible conduct.

He emphasised discipline as a defining value, stating that obedience to camp rules and active participation in orientation activities would shape the effectiveness of corps members during and beyond the service year.

Professor Soludo commended the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps at both national and state levels, describing the partnership with Anambra State as vital to grassroots development, public enlightenment, health outreach and youth mentoring.

Earlier, the Anambra State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Pauline Ojisua, said a total of 1,500 prospective corps members, comprising 616 males and 884 females, were registered for the orientation exercise.

Mrs Ojisua urged the corps members to obey all extant laws, NYSC regulations and security directives, stressing that discipline remains the cornerstone of the scheme.

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She added that the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme would equip corps members with practical tools for self-reliance, while all security, medical and administrative arrangements had been fully mobilised to ensure a successful orientation programme.