Chief Egbe, President-General, Ovim Community
Abia: Group unveils blueprint to drive economic development in Ovim community
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Ovim Community in Isukwuato Local Government Area of Abia State has unveiled an economic blueprint aimed at facilitating the development of the community and to check unemployment.
The blueprint, christened “Ovim Economic Project” is an initiative of the Ovim Community League. Its objectives include establishing, strengthening and encouraging business and entrepreneurial growth.
It also targets to encourage youths of Ovim to develop skills that would equip them to stay relevant in the fast-paced Global village; create avenues for business conversations and build a viable project that would help to achieve entrepreneurial growth, while ensuring the sustainability of ideal projects.
The Ovim Economic Project was launched at the weekend at Obayi Town Hall, Ovim, during a sensitization programme organized by Ovim Economic Forum. The theme of the programme was “Expanding Our Youth Income Corridors,”
Chairman of Ovim Economic Forum and Senior Special Assistance to FCT Minister on Health and Hospital Management, Dr Ejike Orji, told newsmen that the major driver of youth restiveness in Nigeria was population dynamics.
According to Dr. Orji, about 70 per cent of the population was under the age of 30, meaning that “we have a lot of young people in the country who are not meeting their aspirations on daily basis.”
Dr. Orji also disclosed that according to a report, 70 per cent of the Nigerian population were dependent, meaning that only 30 per cent was independent and working to support those who are dependent, an indication that there was abject poverty in Nigeria.
To draw Ovim youths out of the poberty bracket, the community came up with the Ovim Economic Project where the youths would groomed in skills and how to establish small scale businesses.
Addressing the gathering during the event, President-General of Ovim Community, Chief Godswill Egbe, said the Ovim Economic Project was part of his manifesto when he was campaigning to become the President-General of the community.
”I thought about what I know how to do, which is to work in some communities, understand the problem of communities and develop their economies.
“So, I started by focusing on the problems, where are we coming from; what do we need to do now. We need to stabilize the community by looking at those things we need to know.
“My major focus is for people living in the community to have enough legal economic corridors and to ensure that enough businesses were thriving in the community which will create opportunity for the youths at home to make enough money like those in the urban areas” he said.
