The Rivers State government has reaffirmed commitment to youth empowerment as it inaugurates an ultra modern ‘Adolescent and Young People Innovation Hub (AYP)’ to tackle unemployment amongst young people.
Dr Adaeze Ure, Commissioner for Health made the remark at the unveiling of the Hub in Fimie community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the State on Thursday.
She said that the initiative, which represented a bold and strategic investment for the future of young people, would address issues of unemployment, vulnerability and other social vices.
She explained that the AYP centre was established by the state government in partnership with the United States Centre for Disease Control in Nigeria through the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria and Project Hope.
Commending the development partners, the Commissioner said that the initiatives aligned strongly with Gov. Siminalayi Fubara’s development agenda concerning HIV response priorities and commitments to building a resilient, skilled and productive youth population.
Ure acknowledged that adolescents and young people constituted a significant population and yet, they continued struggling with complex challenges.
She said that the challenges included unemployment, limited access to skills, social vulnerability and health risks, particularly in relation to HIV and sexual/reproductive health.
“This centre is comprehensively equipped to meet diverse skills and trainings, using a state of the arts equipments in the area of ICT and robotics, arts development, media, beauty and vocational trainings.
Ure said that the design of the centre, with counselling services and food technology, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, health services among others, reflected a deep understanding of diverse needs of young people.
On his part, Dr Charles Mensah, Chief Operating Officers/Managing Director, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, commended the state government for its focus on promoting the welfare of young people in the state.
He noted that the programme, aimed at curbing youth restiveness, was shaped to accommodate no fewer than 50 trainees per batch of six months training duration.
Mensah said that upon completion of each six months course, trainees would also be supported with some start up kits to enable them set up their businesses without stress.
“Today, we are commissioning and transitioning the AYP Innovation Hub from a foreign-funded project to a state-owned and sustained project.
“The building and site for this project was donated by Rivers government; what we did with funding from United States Center for Disease Control and Crime Prevention was to do the renovation and equipping.
“Unfortunately, as we were completing the project, there was a change in administration in the US, and this affected the initial focus of the project.
“However, Project Hope came in and funded it to enable us operationalise it,” he said.
Mrs Adeola Seweje, Programs Operations Manager, Project Hope, commended the intentionality of the state government and partners in actualising a youth friendly scheme.
Describing, unemployment and poverty as key drivers to vulnerability, Seweje assured that holistic solution would be offered by the rich curriculum articulated in the program.
“We implemented phase one and we got an impressive outcome; this is phase two and we are hoping it would open up more funding to enhance sustainability,” she said.
Earlier, the Paramount Ruler of the Fimie Kingdom, Dr Bernard Fimie, thanked the state government and its partners for the laudable initiative.
He pledged to protect the facility and also ensured that young people take advantage of the programme to better their lives and that of the community.
