By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, has clarified that the fund from the state government’s flagship youth empowerment programme — One Youth, Two Skills Plus (1Youth2Skills Plus) — is not for settling family problems, but strictly for business set-up and development.
Commissioner Agha Mba made the clarification while reacting to what he described as a “misleading, hysterical, and incendiary open letter” authored by one Mr. Nwakanwa Okoye, who accused the state government of insincerity in the implementation of its flagship youth empowerment programme, One Youth, Two Skills Plus (1Youth2Skills Plus).
Recall that Mr. Okoye had, over the week, authored and begun circulating a social media piece titled “Betrayal in Broad Daylight: When Empowerment Becomes a Political Scam and Silence Turns to Criminal Negligence”, in which he laid several allegations against the operation of the One Youth, Two Skills program, accusing the state government of “criminal negligence” toward the participants in the second phase of the program, whom he claimed had graduated.
With little or no knowledge of how the programs runs, Mr. Okoye, in the piece, also likened the One Youth, Two Skills to a political scam, threatening and warning the state government to immediately release funds to the participants, or expect “storm” soonest. While likening the state government’s action to a compromise of a generation’s future, he said the participants should be immediately given money, citing the reality of today’s economy, which, he said, is harsh, bitter, and cruel.
However, reacting to the open letter, Commissioner Agha Mba, in a statement issued on Wednesday, dismissed Mr. Okoye’s claims as an unfortunate mixture of ignorance, misinformation, and mischief, aimed at discrediting a well-structured and transformational initiative of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration. He also described the social media piece as misleading, incendiary, and filled with misinformation obviously targeted at undermining the integrity of the One Youth Two Skills Plus (1Youth2Skills Plus) programme.
The Commissioner clarified the facts and set the records straight on the laudable initiative that has continued to transform the lives of thousands of young Ndi Anambra.
He expressed disappointment over what he called a media gimmick by Mr. Okoye describing it as a publication loaded with inaccuracies, misplaced anger, and deliberate distortions aimed at discrediting a well-thought-out youth empowerment scheme. According to him, while the piece in question ordinarily would not deserve a response, the Ministry’s culture of transparency, accountability, and commitment to truth made it necessary to provide clarifications so that the public is not misled.
Commissioner Agha Mba reiterated that the 1Youth2Skills Plus programme is a structured development blueprint designed to empower youths and establish sustainable businesses with genuine socio-economic impact. He emphasized that the initiative is not a political gimmick or a scam as alleged, but Nigeria’s most structured youth enterprise development model, offering vocational training, entrepreneurship development, cooperative formation, equipment financing, and one-year mentorship. He described Mr. Okoye’s attempt to reduce such a monumental programme to a political scam as not only unfounded but also disrespectful to the over 5,000 youths currently benefiting from it.
While reiterating the government’s commitment to the youth development agenda, he insisted that the 1Youth2Skills Plus programme remains Nigeria’s most structured youth enterprise development model — one that is built on sustainability, transparency, and impact-driven strategy.
The Commissioner further outlined that the programme is carefully structured in stages, including the apprenticeship scheme, entrepreneurship training, cooperative formation and formalization, equipment financing, and mentorship, each with specific deliverables and rigorous processes to ensure accountability and sustainability. He noted that the current phase — cooperative formation and formalization — is critical for proper documentation, verification, and preparation before disbursement of funds, adding that government funds cannot be handed out without fulfilling all regulatory requirements.
“This cooperative formation stage also involves securing of office spaces for the cooperative. The office will serve for the purposes of meetings, as well as shop for business operations. The Ministry had already directed each of the cooperatives to go and secure their offices. And it is also worthy to note here that it is the government of Anambra State that will pay the rent of these offices/shops.
“Some of the cooperatives have already submitted the details of the shops they secured, while some others are yet to get theirs, probably waiting to trail blames in the future if they end up not receiving what they are expecting from the government, because the rule is that all these conditions must be fully met and the processes diligently completed.
“Still in this stage, there’s also the aspect of account openings for the Cooperatives. This is necessary because it is through bank accounts that the government will transact with the cooperative,” the Commissioner clarified.
He dismissed Mr. Okoye’s claims of government negligence or delays, stating that any perceived delay is a result of beneficiaries not completing necessary documentation or processes, rather than failure on the part of the government.
“Hence, Mr. Okoye’s claim that participants have “nothing to show” is either borne out of ignorance or intentional distortion. While still undergoing this process and advancing to the final stage, many trainees have already begun business operations using only the skills acquired, without waiting for capital support from government,” he added.
Commissioner Agha Mba also described as grossly misplaced the expectation that government funds would be disbursed hastily without due diligence, emphasizing that no amount of emotional blackmail or social media agitation would force the government to circumvent due process. He also reminded those with such mindset and expectation that the 1Youth2Skills Plus fund is strictly for business development and not a quick-fix solution for settling family problems or personal financial issues
“For the purpose emphasis and clarity, 1Youth2Skills Plus fund is not for settling family problem — renewal of expired rents, payment of children’s school fees, sorting of hospital bills, family feeding, or hosting of urgent marriage ceremonies. It is meant for business setup — and every serious entrepreneur knows that success in business demands more than just capital; it requires planning, patience, and personal sacrifice.
“Therefore, anyone who misinterpreted the programme as a quick-fix solution for personal problems must be told bluntly and truthfully that they misunderstood the purpose in its entirety,” he stressed.
The Commissioner recalled that the first phase of the programme was successfully completed, while the beneficiaries fully received their packages and are already recording success stories in their businesses. He assured that the second phase, which is nearing its final stages, would follow suit, while the third phase would commence in due time, all in line with the vision of the Solution Governor to empower Anambra youths in the most impactful way.
He called on genuine beneficiaries to remain focused and not to allow political distractions or selfish agitators to derail their journey toward empowerment. He also cautioned those trying to politicize or weaponize the process against engaging in emotional manipulation or media theatrics, as such would not derail the programme or diminish its impact. According to him, Governor Soludo’s administration is focused on delivering sustainable development and will not be stampeded by mob emotions or blackmail.
“Governor Soludo did it before. He is doing it again — bigger and better. We are focused, committed, and accountable. It is Youth O’Clock in Anambra, and Solution Is Here,” he concluded.
