Opportunities abound in Nigeria despite economic hardship — PSC Sec

Secretary of the Police Service Commission, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, has stated that there are numerous opportunities for Nigerians, especially the youth, to thrive despite the current economic hardship in the country.

He expressed optimism that the country would overcome its economic challenges, just as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the entire world. Nnamani stressed that maintaining a positive attitude in the face of adversity is key to the country’s survival.

Speaking in Enugu during the certificate presentation ceremony of the Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru skill acquisition empowerment program for Ebonyi youths, Nnamani emphasized that human empowerment is crucial for Nigeria’s economic development and growth.

The programme, sponsored by the Ebonyi State government, trained 77 youths over two months in various agro-production and processing fields, including cassava, rice, piggery, fishery, and poultry at Agbani Farms Limited in Enugu State. The initiative aimed to ensure sufficient food production for both consumption and export while also providing job opportunities for the youth.

Nnamani noted that empowering young people in agro-production and processing would help combat hunger in the country, noting that the nation faces greater challenges when its active workforce remains idle. He called for increased focus on agriculture to improve Nigeria’s economic situation.

“I believe that despite the hardship in this country, there are opportunities for its youths and people to survive. We endured COVID-19, which devastated the whole world, and it created opportunities for people to engage in activities that yielded financial returns for survival. This should be no different,” he said.

Nnamani told the participating youths that they have been equipped to feed themselves and engage others, stressing that the training has opened avenues for self-employment and contributing to societal growth.

“You will go home with a certificate that you can present anywhere in the world. We promised you, and the governor who supported you, that we would provide the best training possible. You have completed the learning and practice, and I am confident you can stand on your own,” he added, thanking Governor Nwifuru for his trust in the organization.

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mrs. Ann Aligwe, also spoke, stating that the training programme was organized to ensure that youths are engaged in meaningful ventures rather than resorting to crime and social ills.

“Instead of giving the youths fish, Governor Nwifuru has taught them how to fish,” she said. “They were trained in piggery, fishery, poultry, rice, and cassava production and processing.”

The Commissioner added that the governor has promised to empower the participants upon their return to Ebonyi State so they can apply what they have learned.

One of the participants, Nwodom Chukwudi Joseph, expressed gratitude for being selected for the program and promised to make good use of his new skills.

“I am very happy to be part of this program. I promise to make good use of what I have learned. I am grateful to our governor for giving us the opportunity to better ourselves,” he said.

Chika Nwogbaga, who trained in fishery, thanked Governor Nwifuru for initiating the program, stating, “There is no better way of empowering people than what he has done.”