NEWS
Abia Targets One Million Youths as YEIDEP Recruitment Drive Takes Off in Umuahia
The Abia State Government has officially commenced a massive recruitment and mobilisation drive under the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme (YEIDEP), setting an ambitious target of registering and onboarding at least one million young people across the state.
The programme was formally flagged off on Saturday at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, in a ceremony that brought together government officials, youth development stakeholders and executives of the twelve selected banks expected to champion the registration and onboarding process across Abia State.
Among the dignitaries at the event were Hon. Chinasa Nwosu, who represented the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, the Senior Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Mr. Raymond Ukwa, as well as representatives and executives of the participating financial institutions.
Governor Alex C. Otti was represented at the flag-off ceremony by the Honourable Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, who formally declared the Abia State recruitment drive open on behalf of the Governor.
YEIDEP is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development aimed at empowering Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 and 35 through business grants, skills training and other forms of support designed to help beneficiaries establish new businesses or expand existing ones.
The programme covers a broad range of sectors, including agriculture, technology, renewable energy, tourism, entertainment, fashion, food, healthcare and other creative and innovative enterprises, opening up opportunities for young people with diverse business interests and ambitions.
Abia has already recorded an encouraging level of participation, with more than 200,000 young people said to have expressed interest and registered through the programme’s digital platform.
With the official commencement of the state-wide recruitment drive and the involvement of the twelve selected banks, the government is now intensifying mobilisation efforts to reach its target of one million registered and onboarded young people.
The participating banks are expected to play a strategic role in taking the registration process closer to communities and ensuring that eligible youths across the state’s urban and rural areas have the opportunity to participate.
The Abia State Government has assured young people of its commitment to supporting the initiative, while emphasising that the true impact of the programme should go far beyond impressive registration numbers.
The ultimate goal, the government noted, is to see young people translate the opportunities provided by YEIDEP into viable businesses, expanded enterprises, sustainable jobs and improved livelihoods across the state.
As mobilisation gathers momentum, the government has called on eligible youths to take advantage of the opportunity. Traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations, student bodies, cooperatives and community groups have also been urged to support the exercise and help ensure that qualified beneficiaries in every part of Abia State are reached.
With more than 200,000 young people already indicating interest, the flag-off of the recruitment drive signals a major push towards what could become one of the largest youth economic mobilisation 
efforts in Abia State.