The Enugu State Government has provided training for 3,000 youths and women in various skills such as food processing, packaging, and preservation with the aim of improving local markets and exports.
The participants, who came from all three Senatorial Districts of the state, graduated at a formal ceremony held at the Enugu State Science, Technical, and Vocational Schools Management.
In his address at the ceremony, Dr. Malachy Agbo, the Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, stated that the training was created “to reduce poverty and the unemployment rate in the state”.
He mentioned that Governor Peter Mbah had made a promise during his campaign to eliminate poverty in the state by 2031.
This training initiative is part of the government’s larger program to empower individuals with transformative skills and strategies to enhance their quality of life.
The beneficiaries will gain access to information, skills training, and online marketing opportunities to help them process and package agricultural goods from the state for local markets and potential exports.
Dr. Agbo emphasized the importance of the participants not taking their additional training for granted.
He stressed that the goal is to expand their knowledge base and increase their income to improve their standard of living and purchasing power.
“These important trainings are the initiatives of the Mbah’s administration.
“They are aimed at changing your economic status,” Agbo said.
Dr. Agbo encouraged the trainees to leverage networking to broaden their business reach and tap into the vast market opportunities.
He announced that the ministry is set to roll out additional training programs, equipping more residents with diverse business skills to sustain themselves and their families.
A grateful beneficiary, Mrs. Amaka Ozor, expressed appreciation for the training, noting that it will enable her to achieve self-sufficiency.
“We learned a lot on food packaging, preservation, and processing and I hope to be selling packaged foods in the market,” Uzor noted.
