Youth empowerment can rescue Nigerians from poverty – Patience Eno

Ini Billie, Uyo

Wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs Patience Umo Eno, has said youth entrepreneurs have the capacity to generate millions of jobs required to rescue Nigerians from poverty.

Speaking at the weekend in Uyo during the 2023 World Youth Skills Day with the theme: “Youth and Entrepreneurial Skills in our Society: Pricing, Book Keeping and Branding,” Mrs Eno advocated the growth of young entrepreneurs.

Eno who stated that fostering the growth of young entrepreneurs was possible through democratising job creation, explained that the government alone cannot create the needed jobs.

“Entrepreneurship is a fundamental component of economic empowerment and job creation which plays a pivotal role in addressing poverty.

“Therefore, youth entrepreneurship does not only unlock the economic potentials of young people, it fosters their essential skills and abilities needed for future of sustainable growth. Young individuals will also generate personal income and create foster job opportunities for others. 

“It is evident that government employment alone cannot completely address the issue of unemployment; hence, we must democratize job creation and the most effective approach to accomplishing this is by fostering the growth of entrepreneurs and equipping them with the necessary tools needed to succeed, thereby generating the millions of jobs required to rescue our people from poverty.

“Governor Umo Eno under his ARISE Agenda is committed to encouraging young people to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. The ARISE agenda will offer different layers of opportunities and boost their capacity,” she stated.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi said the youths must be equipped to take over the reins of development and growth from the older generation, adding that any society that does not look into the younger generation that will take over from them has not started.

Eyakenyi urged youths to be willing to start a little in their entrepreneurship journey and grow it to something big, adding that the theme for the event was apt.

She explained that the administration of Pastor Umo Eno is interested in what happens to the youths in the state, noting that the government of Akwa Ibom State will back you up.

In response, State Coordinator, Akwa Ibom Christians Youths, Evang. Ubong Ituen said the lecture exposed the prerequisite needed to excel in life.

“We are happy for the lecture. These are the things we need in life to excel. Most of us are entrepreneurs but what we have learnt today is what we don’t know. I want to assure you that as we leave here, our businesses will scale to the next level.

“We are hardworking youths and we will take Akwa Ibom to the next level,” he stated. The resource persons at the programme, Ms Mmanti Umoh spoke on branding; Mrs Itoro Akpama spoke on book keeping, and Mr Aniekan Edet spoke on pricing.