Agbani, Enugu State – August 5, 2025 – The Federal Government has activated a fresh drive for skills acquisition in Enugu State, as officials of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) commenced formal engagement with Nkanu West Local Government ahead of the upcoming registration exercise for vocational and entrepreneurial training.
Receiving the NDE team at the council headquarters, Agbani, the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo, expressed strong backing for the initiative, calling on residents of the area to take advantage of the opportunity. He described the programme as “a step in the right direction toward equipping our youth with skills that guarantee not just self-reliance, but long-term economic empowerment,” noting that it aligns with Governor Peter Mbah’s “zero poverty headcount” goal for Enugu State.
The visiting team, led by Mr. Oluka Godwin, Enugu State Coordinator of the NDE, said the visit was to formally inform the council of the enrolment schedule, targeting residents of Nkanu East and Nkanu West Federal Constituency. According to Oluka, “our mission is to register willing individuals who want to be trained in marketable skills — from tailoring to agriculture and digital services — as part of the national effort to drastically reduce unemployment and dependency.”
He emphasized the need for local government participation, stating that “lasting impact can only be achieved when federal, state and local institutions work as partners to reach people at the grassroots.” He added that previous training interventions had seen participants resettled with tools and startup kits, encouraging Nkanu West to match that legacy with enthusiastic participation.
Chairman Ogbodo assured the NDE team of full local government support and confirmed that logistics were already being put in place to ensure a smooth registration and training process. “Our administration is already implementing complementary programmes. Only recently, we partnered with the Enugu State Ministry of Youths and Sports and Potters Wheel Foundation to train dozens of youths in hands-on business and creative skills,” he said.
Those present during the meeting included the Local Government Secretary, Prince Barr. Onochie Igwesi, and Mike Udo, representative of Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, member representing Nkanu East and West Federal Constituency. Both officials reinforced the chairman’s call for mass participation in the programme.
Residents and stakeholders have also begun reacting to the development. Dr. Ngozi Eze, a development policy expert based in Enugu, said initiatives like this bridge the gap between national policy and local impact. “It’s refreshing to see proactive councils like Nkanu West move swiftly to embrace federal empowerment programmes. This is what development synergy should look like,” she remarked.
Similarly, Mrs. Ifeoma Nweke, a women’s leader in Agbani, noted that the initiative could not have come at a better time. “Many of our youths have ideas but lack the skills or resources to start. This programme gives them both,” she said.
The registration exercise will hold on Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8, 2025, at the Nkanu West Local Government Headquarters, beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day. Residents from Nkanu East and West are encouraged to participate and position themselves for future independence through skill development. GMTNewsng
