The need for education that empowers youths with skills to take control of their society was the major discourse at the two-day 2025 Agbaja Summit, which kicked off in Enugu yesterday.

Organised by the Agbaja Leaders of Thought, with the theme “Empowerment for the future,” the summit drew a wide range of the Agbaja people, such as former Governor Sullivan Chime, the former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West Senatorial District, Rep Sunday Umeh of Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency and Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly,  Uche Ugwu, among others.

Agbaja is a group of culturally related people found in Udi, Ezeagu, and parts of Enugu North, Enugu South and Igboetiti Local Council areas of Enugu State.

Governor Peter Mbah, who declared the summit open, noted that nations which are prospering are not because of their mineral wealth, but because they invest in human capital, technology, and innovation, commending their drive for education and skills empowerment.

“Knowledge has become the new currency of power. Skills have become the new economic passport. In Enugu State, we have committed ourselves to this global reality. That is why we are building: 260 Smart Schools, one in every ward, with world-class digital classrooms and laboratories.

“A reformed curriculum that moves our children from memorisation to coding, robotics, critical thinking, and problem-solving. A network of skill acceleration centres that prepare our youth for the modern economy. Our vision is simple but ambitious: to make Enugu State the skills capital of Nigeria,” Mbah stated.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Prof. Sam Ugwu, noted that the summit was not merely an event, but a movement in pursuit of excellence, identity, and collective progress.