Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has disbursed N3.5 billion in business grants to 8,300 young people as part of his administration’s flagship digital enterprise programme, One-Youth-Two-Skills Plus.
The beneficiaries, drawn from within and outside the state, received the grants during a graduation and certification ceremony held at the International Convention Centre in Awka. Launched in October 2022, the initiative is aimed at equipping young entrepreneurs with dual skillsets and startup capital, aligning with Soludo’s pledge to create 1,000 new millionaires annually.
To ensure sustainability, the governor announced that the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA) will provide additional loan facilities to participants seeking to scale their ventures. The State Commissioner for Youth Development described the initiative as a transformative programme that is reshaping the state’s business landscape, while the scheme’s chairman revealed that participation grew by 48% this year and recommended its adoption beyond Anambra.
The first phase of the programme in 2023 supported 5,000 youths with N2 billion, many of whom now run thriving enterprises and employ others. Several beneficiaries testified that the combination of grants and digital training helped them shift from job seekers to job creators.
Beyond One-Youth-Two-Skills Plus, the state government is also advancing digital innovation through complementary programmes such as Code Anambra, focused on ICT development, and the One Million Digital Tribe project, designed to accelerate the growth of innovation-driven enterprises.
For MSMEs, initiatives like this signal a broader push toward a digital-first economy in Anambra, fostering a new generation of skilled entrepreneurs and strengthening the state’s small business ecosystem.
