The programme, which is currently underway in key locations including Uburu in Ebonyi State, is designed to deepen grassroots development and equip youths and women with practical, income-generating skills. Participants were drawn from all Local Government Areas across the five states of the South East.
In a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Nweze said the initiative reflects a broader vision of building sustainable livelihoods and strengthening entrepreneurship at the community level.
According to her, beneficiaries are receiving hands-on training in fashion design, catering, hairdressing, ICT, photography, make-up artistry, and other creative and entrepreneurial trades tailored to current market demands.
“Beyond vocational instruction, the programme integrates business development and financial literacy sessions aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship capacity, improving market readiness, and ensuring long-term sustainability for beneficiaries,” she stated.
Nweze reiterated that sustainable development is anchored on empowering individuals to become economically self-reliant. She noted that the administration’s community engagement strategy in the South East prioritises human capital development as a pathway to long-term socio-economic transformation.
“Our vision is to raise a generation of skilled, confident, and self-sufficient young people who will not only create wealth for themselves but also contribute meaningfully to the economy of our region,” she added.
She disclosed that success stories from the first and second batches continue to validate the impact of the programme, with several beneficiaries reportedly establishing viable small-scale businesses and cooperatives within their communities
. These outcomes, she said, informed the expansion of the third batch to accommodate more participants and introduce additional specialisations aligned with evolving economic realities.
Community leaders, youth representatives, and women groups across the region have commended Nweze’s sustained investment in empowerment initiatives, describing the programme as a strategic intervention capable of driving long-term socio-economic growth.
The ongoing training is expected to culminate in a graduation and empowerment ceremony later in the year. At the event, participants will receive start-up kits and structured mentorship support to facilitate their transition into sustainable ventures.
Observers said the programme continues to position Nweze’s empowerment model as a benchmark for community-driven development and youth-focused economic revitalisation in the South East.
