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Abia State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Kelechi Anosike, has unveiled plans for an “Operation Feed Abia” programme to engage youths in agriculture, create jobs, and boost food security if elected.
Anosike said his proposed administration would also establish an Abia Global Opportunity Agency to equip young people with skills that would enable them to take advantage of virtual employment opportunities with companies outside Nigeria.
He spoke at the Ohuhu Youth Day, which was held at Afugiri Central School, Ohuhu, where the Youth Wing of the Ohuhu Welfare Union honoured him with a Visionary Leadership Award. The award was presented by the traditional ruler of Umudiawa Autonomous Community, Nnamdi Ofoegbu.
Anosike said a responsible government must regard young people as partners in development and deliberately create programmes to secure their future.
“You see, how you know a responsive and responsible government is that government that sees the youths as partners in progress,” he said.
“Any government that does not have a programme for the youths does not understand the future because the youths are the future.”
The PDP candidate identified agriculture as a major plank of his proposed job creation and food security programme, saying, “Operation Feed Abia” would be a deliberate back-to-farm initiative targeted particularly at young people”.
He commended the Ohuhu youth leadership for engaging young people in agriculture and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and announced a N1 million donation to support its agricultural programme. Anosike said his plans for youth employment would extend beyond agriculture to preparing young Abians for opportunities in the global digital economy.
“If elected, we will go beyond this. We intend to start programmes whereby even if you are in any part of Abia State, you can work in companies in Asia or Europe through what we call the Abia Global Opportunity Agency. Most jobs are now virtual and we must prepare our youths for that future”, he said.
He urged Ohuhu youths to support his 2027 governorship ambition, describing the PDP project as one in which they should have a stake.
“I believe in the future of Ohuhu youth and all the youths of Abia State. Any other programme you are doing, call on me, I will support you,” he said.
Chairman of the event, Ugochukwu Ernest Edozie, commended the youth leadership for initiating programmes aimed at improving lives and urged the organisation to make Ohuhu Youth Day an annual event.
Earlier, President of the Ohuhu Welfare Union Youth Wing, Uchenna Iheanacho, said the organisation had empowered more than 300 people through farming and skills acquisition programmes.
Iheanacho said the group required about N75 million to implement the next phase of its programmes, including an agriculture and interest-free farming loan scheme, campaigns against drug abuse and cultism, health awareness programmes and ICT training for 50 students.
The group also plans to expand its vocational training programme. Iheanacho appealed to government, corporate organisations, and philanthropists to support the youth body in implementing the projects.
