Ms Chiamka Imegwu, the proprietress of NIFFERS STYLING, has called on Anambra State Government to extend its financial support to private entrepreneurs who trains youths on skills acquisition.
Imegwu, said that she is a private operator that deals on clothing and trains unemployed youths who have shown interest in clothe making, in Abagana community, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra.
She informed The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Wednesday that no incentive is been given to her or the learners at graduation from the government since the have a program for youth development in the state.
Imegwu appealed to the state government to include operators in their categories in their 1 youth 2 skills program since their operations tallies with the government goal of empowering youths through soft loans and starter pack after learning skills.
“ I am willing to partner effectively with the government in achieving youths development and create work engagement for youths who learn skills from my workshop but I do not have start pack or soft loan to offer them.
“If government can engage us in their program and give incentives to small operators like us, we will make a difference in rural areas where we function.
“We will through passing on skills we have to young unemployed youths in our community add value economically and socially to the state,” she appealed.
She said that the rate of unemployment and daily cost of living soar high in the country, that now is apt for government to seek out youths who are struggling to survive in their various skills and motivate them to teach youths who are ready to learn skills.
“In our area, there are people who deals on bridal contents and event planning who need little fund to stand to be economic useful but lacks helpers, government can assist to take some youths out of the street for good.
“ If we are captured in the youth skill development the state will benefits from the process because it will not only increase internally generated revenue of the state but will reduce youth restiveness and crime,” she said.
Imegwu said that if youths are well encouraged in self development certainly they will engage in the business for their survival than always depending on relatives for financial assistance.
She also appealed to the government to look in the direction of regulating the prices of accessories used for skill training to help trained apprentice start their own business with small amount of money to eliminate unemployment and other anti social activities among the youths in the country.
Imegwu said that in skills like bridal and event planning, cake decorations , make-up and tying of scarf that youths who are serous minded can have between N50,000 to N100,000 to get started and after learning get a soft loan from government to open up a shop and employ others.
She said that unstable prices of accessories and paucity of funds are major challenges facing younger ones from starting the business after training, upgrading is another challenge faced as there are needs to be updated with the current tools for the skills affairs.
She charged youths and unemployed people to learn skilled jobs as another alternative to white collar jobs to be resourceful and financial capability
