Enugu State Government has announced plans to train and empower 1,000 youth with free digital and practical skills, alongside start-up equipment and six-month industrial placement, aimed at tackling unemployment, promoting self-reliance and building a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, announced that in an address he presented on behalf of the state Governor Dr Peter Mbah on Friday, October 23,2026 during the Enugu Youth Skills Acquisitions Empowerment Program (EYSAEP 2.0) held at the International Conference Centre, ICC Enugu.
He described investment in young people as a strategic pathway to reducing poverty, strengthening productivity and building a sustainable economy.
Onyia said the government’s approach went beyond temporary empowerment interventions, explaining that youth development required a structured system through which beneficiaries could acquire relevant skills, receive support and build sustainable livelihoods.
SSG Prof Onyia in a handshake with a priest.
He stressed that equipping young people with technical, digital and creative capabilities would strengthen entrepreneurship, expand economic opportunities and increase the state’s productive capacity.
The SSG urged participants to take their training seriously and use the opportunity to become economically independent and contribute meaningfully to the development of Enugu State.
He further emphasised the importance of continuous support, mentorship and monitoring to ensure that the programme produced lasting results, including the emergence of entrepreneurs capable of employing others.
Speaking with newsmen, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilisation, Hon. Charles Edeh, said the state government was providing 1,000 scholarships to young people across the state’s 17 local government areas, enabling them to acquire practical and digital skills without paying for the training.
He explained that the initiative was designed to equip beneficiaries with relevant skills to earn a living, establish businesses and participate in the state’s expanding economy rather than depend solely on white-collar employment.
The second cohort of the Enugu Youth Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Programme (EYSAEP 2.0) will run for eight weeks across eight training centres, marking an expansion from the two centres used during the first edition, which trained more than 200 beneficiaries.
SA youth mobilisation ,Hon Charles Edeh
According to him, the programme’s expansion reflects Governor Mbah’s determination to translate his administration’s youth development promises into tangible opportunities for economic independence.
“The youth are not only the future of tomorrow but the future of today,” Edeh said, reiterating the governor’s vision that “our tomorrow is here.”
He disclosed that the selection process would be conducted through a database of registered applicants, with beneficiaries selected randomly during the rollout to promote transparency and broaden access to the opportunity.
Edeh added that the programme was particularly intended to benefit less-privileged residents, unemployed graduates and students seeking practical skills to support themselves financially while pursuing their education.
He said the governor would personally participate in monitoring the selection process to ensure that the opportunities reached the intended beneficiaries rather than being concentrated among privileged families.
“The skill is free. And after the skill, His Excellency is going to empower you,” he said.
Giving examples of the planned support, Edeh explained that beneficiaries who trained in pastry production would receive relevant machines, those who studied tailoring would get sewing machines, while participants who acquired coding skills would be provided with laptops.
He said the provision of equipment was intended to enable beneficiaries to put their newly acquired skills into practice and begin generating income after completing their training.
Beyond the eight-week training, Edeh disclosed that the programme would incorporate a six-month industrial placement during which beneficiaries would work with established practitioners in their respective fields to deepen their knowledge and gain practical experience.
“For instance, participants trained in pastry production would be attached to existing pastry businesses, where they could improve their skills and understand the demands of running a business’, he said.
He expressed that the additional training and workplace experience would help participants build confidence, improve their competence and prepare them to establish sustainable businesses.
Edeh noted that the programme was also intended to address the economic difficulties facing young people, stressing that dependence on parents or waiting indefinitely for formal employment was no longer a sustainable option for many households.
He urged prospective beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity, remain committed throughout the training and apply the knowledge gained to improve their livelihoods.
The programme is expected to commence officially on Monday, October 26, with training taking place at eight centres across Enugu’s urban and suburban communities.
Edeh said the training would conclude on December 19, when the government planned to hold an unveiling ceremony at Okpara Square, Enugu.
The initiative aligns with the Mbah administration’s broader economic development agenda, which places emphasis on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, job creation and the development of a productive workforce.
