Mrs. Ugwuanyi partners Gazelle Vocational Youth Empowerment Academy to reduce unemployment, criminal activities

The wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, has

charged the youths to avail themselves of the opportunity in the

available skill acquisition centres in the country and become self

reliant in their endeavours.
Mrs. Ugwuanyi made the call yesterday while flagging-off a six-day

youth empowerment programme organized by the Gazzelle Vocational Youth

Empowerment development in partnership with Fidelity Bank Plc and

Industrial Training Fund (ITC) at Nsukka.
Addressing the participants and the organizers of the programme at

University of Nigeria Nsukka, venue of the event, Mrs. Ugwuanyi

observed that youth unemployment has continued to rise,  a situation

she described as dangerous following the vices associated with it.

She explained that the call had become necessary as these skill

acquisition centres when embraced would enthrone successful artisans,

entrepreneurs and consultants in the areas of fashion designing,

agriculture, welding, catering, cosmetic/soap making, black-smiting,

tie and dye among others which she noted were in line with her pet

project.
The governor's wife enjoined corporate organizations, NGO's and good

spirited philanthropists to engage the nation's youth and job seekers

in meaningful activities that would make them self reliance and eschew

vices in the society, urging the participants to be more dedicated.

Speaking on the occasion,  the deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic,

University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Chukwuma Ogbonna described the

university as a pace setter in education, adding that, the programme

was designed to improve the lives of the students and participants

alike.
Prof Ogbonna explained that the Vocational Academy would enable the

school produce graduates that would compete with their counterparts

world over, noting that the university family would do everything

within its power to empower its students and advised them to make

proper use of the opportunities.
Speaking, the Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Enugu and Ebonyi

States, Mr. Leo Ezugwu disclosed that his bank came to partner with

Gazzelle Academy to take off the programme, noting that Fidelity Bank

is always interested in human oriented business programmes towards the

development of the society.
He noted that the bank always funds and encourages genuine

organizations instituted to commence meaningful programmes.

The founder and the initiator of the Gazzelle Academy Vocational

Centre, Mrs. Muna Onuzo said that the programme was put in place to

extend hands of fellowship with Her Excellency and the university

community towards empowering the undergraduates in the areas of

agriculture, catering, makeup/cosmetics, ICT, hospitality, fashion

designing among others.