Youth Day 2026: Anambra Records 13,300 Beneficiaries From Empowerment Programmes
By Ifeoma Aniagbado
As the world marks International Youth Day 2026, Anambra State has highlighted the empowerment of more than 13,300 young people through various skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes implemented between 2022 and 2025.
The 2026 theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” recognizes that young people may come from different backgrounds but share common hopes for quality education, decent jobs, inclusion and a better future.
In Anambra, the Soludo administration has made youth development a major part of its agenda through initiatives such as the 1Youth2Skills Plus Programme, which has provided training and support in areas including ICT, fashion design, solar installation, agriculture, cinematography, furniture making, cosmetology and automobile repairs.
According to the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, the programmes have also provided beneficiaries with business financing and start up grants running into billions of naira, alongside mentorship, cooperative schemes and entrepreneurship development aimed at helping young people become self reliant and create jobs.
Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, said young people need opportunities rather than charity, stressing that the government would continue to support them through skills development, entrepreneurship, mentorship, sports and innovation.
