Enugu Indigenes In USA Unveil Project To Empower Youths

The 26th National Convention of the Enugu indigenes in the United States of America (USA) has ended with a launch of “Enugu Building Project” an empowerment hub for young Enugu youths to acquire skills like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other relevant technical skills.

The project is expected to offer the state with various opportunities that include youth empowerment programme, skill acquisition, healthcare delivery, and community development programmes.

Delivery a keynote address on the theme of the convention, “Building Enugu USA Headquarters For Youth Empowerment, Skills Acquisition, Healthcare Delivery And Other Community Development Programmes” held in Dallas, Texas, USA, a Deputy Sheriff (Rtd), Dr John Egbo, described the project as first of its kind among Nigerian state diaspora organisations in the United States.

He said he was excited about the prospects of Enugu-USA owning its own home in the Coal City (Aku Ruo Uno) which would benefit Enugu youths.

Egbo who is the first Commissioner for Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, commended the President of the association, Dr. Chy Agbayi, and her executive for making history by initiating the project.

According to Egbo, the youth empowerment is a development programme that aims to create opportunities that encourage and develop young people to be morally responsible, self-reliant, and financially productive citizens.

“Enugu USA can consider instituting scholarships, providing resources for youths to establish SMEs, creating incentives to attract youths to agriculture and training them on vocational skills.

“Our young nurses can also be trained on test taking skills to pass the National Council Licensure Examination, (NCLEX), which is the national exam that all nursing students must pass in order to become a licensed registered nurse in the United States.

“The centre will also serve as a hub to attract, identify, energize and train our young people on the use of modern Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning Technology,” Egbo said.

He explained that their youths must be successful, respect their parents, know their root in Nigeria, invest in both continents, marry one other, be bilingual, understand our culture and be proud of their ancestry and heritage.

This, he said, was a wakeup call for all the parents to emulate what had made Jewish Americans and their successive generations great in the United States, which was by connecting and linking their children with their ancestry in Israel.

He noted that their annual medical mission programme to Enugu State had continued to be a model for other organisations to emulate.

“So the proposed Enugu USA Building Project in Enugu will serve as a hub to coordinate future missions and house a modern medical clinic with hard-to-find medical equipment to diagnose common diseases.

“The Project will be a great addition and support to the other developmental projects of Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who is really changing the trajectory of development in the State.

“We plead with the Governor to support this laudable project by facilitating prompt allocation of land for the project in a place central and accessible to end users.

“We further plead with him to direct all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to facilitate issuance of relevant permits and waivers to make the immediate and prompt takeoff of the project a reality,” he appealed.

Egbo, a Security Consultant, added that the the Governor of Enugu State had made security of lives and property a priority as he had instituted DRS Patrol team, CCTV cameras on major streets and other measures to tackle insecurity.

He also assured the association that as a non profit organization, they should seek additional funds and grants to fast track the programmes from reputable organizations in the United States such as Global Fund for Children, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Allstate Foundation, Good Sports, Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, and Daniels Fund.

“It is heartwarming to learn that Agbayi has set up a grant writing team to source funds for Enugu USA developmental initiatives.

“I encourage everyone of us, our relatives and friends to donate to the Enugu USA Building Project. Your donation will not be in vain as every donor’s name will be inscribed on the building’s “Wall of Fame” and serve as a permanent reminder of your role in the project.

“In his final remarks, Egbo stressed the importance of the project, saying, “It will serve as a complete domestication and institutionalization of our collective success in the United States. Aku Ruo Uno, Amalu Onye Matalu ya”.