The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, has pledged the legislature’s support for the implementation of the Federal Government’s Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalization Programme (YEIDEP) to boost youth employment and economic inclusion in the state.
Emeruwa gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received a YEIDEP delegation led by Comrade Kennedy Iyere, alongside representatives of partner financial institutions.
The Speaker said the initiative aligned with the development priorities of the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti, particularly in youth empowerment, job creation and economic growth.
He assured the delegation that the Assembly would provide the necessary legislative support to ensure that Abia youths benefited fully from the programme.
Emeruwa also urged young people in the state to take advantage of the initiative to acquire relevant skills, establish businesses and become economically self-reliant.
YEIDEP team leader, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, described the programme as a Federal Government intervention aimed at tackling unemployment, poverty and youth vulnerability through training and access to start-up and business expansion capital.
He said the programme was supervised and coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in collaboration with the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), a non-governmental organisation focused on addressing youth unemployment and poverty.
According to Iyere, the initiative targets sectors including agriculture and entertainment, among others, with the objective of helping young people establish sustainable sources of income.
He warned that widespread unemployment could worsen social instability and criminal activities, arguing that economic inclusion and de-radicalisation were essential to addressing the challenges confronting the country.
Iyere explained that participating banks would manage and disburse programme funds, monitor beneficiaries and submit reports on their progress, while recruitment would be coordinated through the Federal Government and extended to the states.
Twelve financial institutions participated in the meeting: Fidelity Bank, Keystone Bank, Union Bank, Lotus Bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Wema Bank, Signature Bank, Zenith Bank, Jaiz Bank and First City Monument Bank.
Meanwhile, the member representing Bende South Constituency, Nnamdi Ibekwe, urged the participating banks to ensure that the South-East, particularly Abia State, received adequate attention in the programme.
Ibekwe said effective implementation could promote social change and expand economic opportunities for young people in the region.
He stressed the need for the initiative to be implemented fairly and transparently to ensure that its benefits reached the intended beneficiaries.
Emeruwa commended the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the financial institutions for supporting the initiative, reiterating the Assembly’s commitment to policies and legislation that promote youth development.
He called on Abia youths to embrace the programme as an opportunity to build productive livelihoods and contribute to the economic development of the state.
