Okezie Ikpeazu, the Governor of Abia State, has commissioned the Women & Youth Development Centre, (Half-Way Home) built by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Total Upstream Nigeria Limited and partners, and donated to the state government as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Speaking at the event, on Tuesday, in Umuahia, Governor Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem, restated the commitment of his administration to vocational training as a tool of empowerment, job creation and provision of needed manpower to drive industrial growth and promised that the facility would be judiciously used as a training ground for skills acquisition in the State. He also stated that the centre would assist the State in its SME development pursuit, adding that SMEs and skills acquisition are the way to go with the present day economic realities.
Ikpeazu expressed appreciation to NNPC, TOTAL and their partners for the gesture and said it would go a long way to create employment opportunities for the people of Abia known for their industriousness.