The Asaba Development Union World Wide (ADUWW) is set to empower youths of Asaba especially those with entrepreneurial skills and businesses, through an investment loan scheme.
This was made known recently by the President General, ADWW, Chief Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, who had set up an Asaba Youth Investment Trust Fund Committee for the purpose, because; “ADUWW has always made our youths the centerpiece of our policy, since we believe strongly that there cannot be any meaningful development in our homeland if our youths are not mainstreamed in the calculus of our developmental trajectory”.
In a statement, Professor Azinge said that; “in this era of high unemployment, hyperinflation, youth restiveness and high moral degradation, the need to engage and change the mindset of a typical Asaba youth has necessitated our setting up this Committee”.
The Committee is chaired by a distinguished financial expert and Chartered Accountant Ogbueshi Fred Okonta. Othermembers of the Committee include; Peter Osamgbi (Secretary), Ogbueshi Peter Ejiofor, Ogbueshi Edu Monyei, Emmanuel Dialli, Innocent Isichei, Ogbueshi Kenny Odogwu, Ogbueshi Peter Ejiofor, Barrister Ken Gwam , Lady Stella Oduah Blaize,Barrister Ike Maduemezie, Bridget Asindi, Okosisi Uche Oduah,Ngozi Edozien, Ogbueshi Alfred Nwokobia, Dr Ekene Omo and Maureen Chukura.
Expressing his acceptance to carry out the task, the Chairman of ADUWW Asaba Youth Investment Trust Fund, Ogbueshi Fred Okonta thanked the President General for the initiative of setting up the trust fund, the confidence reposed on Committee members, and the “charge to vigorously source for funds with a target of 100million naira as a first installment in six months” stressing that by end of 2021, it is expected that a minimum of 500 Asaba youths ( or more) would have been set up in meaningful business and enterprise.
Speaking further, Okonta said that the Trust Fund is opened to every youth of Asaba parentage residing in Asaba. Pointing out that the process of accessing the Fund begins with online application by candidates, leading to selection process, where candidates’ application will be reviewed, to access the viability of the business before funds are released.
Okonta concludes that ADUWW Youth Investment Trust Fund is set to become the fulcrum for supporting Asaba youths and helping them to achieve self-sufficiency; “We are happy to report that so far, 40 Asaba Youths with businesses in fashion,catering, solar energy and transportation have responded to this clarion call. They would like to be empowered in order that their dreams and aspirations would not die”.