The Akwa Ibom State is among the states in Nigeria that would soon benefit from the World Bank’s $300 million Youth Empowerment Funds.
The Sector Leader, Human Development of The World Bank, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, who disclosed this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State at the Governor’s Office, Uyo, said: “Recently, the World Bank, through the request of the Federal Ministry of Finance, has approved a $300 million intervention for youth empowerment. And I know youth empowerment is extremely important in your administration. I can tell you that based on the insistence of the Country Director of The World Bank, Akwa Ibom is one of the states expected to benefit from this.”
Okunmadewa, accompanied by other World Bank officials, said that they had mobilised zonal managers in-charge of Community Social Development Project from 26 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for The World Bank/Joint CSDP Review Management meeting in Uyo, said: “There are so many youths both in the rural areas and in Uyo that need to be empowered.”
He pledged the continued readiness of The World Bank to partner Akwa Ibom State and commended the state government for partnering The World Bank, particularly in human development, the health sector and education.
According to him: “I am here principally to appreciate your partnership with The World Bank, particularly in the area of human development. Human development activities of the World Bank clearly complement your transformation agenda that has been widely regarded as uncommon.”
In his response, Governor Akpabio, who thanked The World Bank for its partnership in human capacity development, advised the bank to focus its development attention in the state, adding: “There is a lot of problem at the shoreline of Akwa Ibom State.
“I am excited about the youth empowerment programme of The World Bank and our state would be very delighted to take part in it. Youths of the Niger Delta are so many and need to be empowered. Our own is a little bit sad because this is a civil service state and we are trying to lay the foundation for future industrialization. Other states are lucky to have industries, factories and all that. So, they have various means of employment but here we don’t have.”
The governor directed the Commissioner of Finance to immediately release the pending N300 million counterpart funding to the bank to enable the state to benefit from other World Bank-assisted projects, assuring the bank of the continuous support of the Akwa Ibom State people and government in its effort to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
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