The senator representing Abia Central, Austin Akobundu’s foundation has sponsored a skills acquisition training programme on fashion designing and fish farming for 150 youths in the district.
At the closing ceremony of the programme in Umuahia yesterday, Akobundu said he had shifted from empowering people with physical items to impacting skills and knowledge in them.
The deputy chairman of senate committee on national planning and economic affairs explained that such skills would make the beneficiaries become self-reliant and creators of employment.
Akobundu, who said the programme was in fulfillment of his 2023 campaign promises to the youths, added that the promises include education and Information Communication Technology among others.
He commended the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the entire members of the Red Chamber, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development for their motivational roles for the programme.
The former minister of state for defence under former president Goodluck Jonathan later presented sewing machines, start-up capital and certificates of participation to the beneficiaries.
Deputy chairman of the district council, Sam Njoku, said Akobundu had within his seven months in the Senate empowered many people and congratulated beneficiaries in the ocassion.
