Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has promised to lift 100, 000 Abia youths out of unemployment in the next four years.

The governor made the promise in his maiden broadcast to the people of the state during which he announced the dissolution of the cabinet left by his immediate predecessor, Chief Theodore Orji.

The broadcast laid out the work plan of the new administration, essentially in the first 100 days with Ikpeazu saying that he has come “to deliver a new Abia State that is better and more focused on uplifting the area of all Abians.”

In dissolving the cabinet, he directed the Commissioner to hand over to Permanent Secretaries of their respective ministries by close of work today, June 3, but left a caveat which indicate that some of them may be reappointed.

“I join other Abians to congratulate them (Commissioners) for their selfless service to our fatherland and promise to call you up as the need arises, because the reward for hard work is more work,” Ikpeazu said.

In the broadcast he delivered four days after he assumed office as the new Chief Executive of God’s Own State, Ikpeazu hinted that his plan to build a new Abia would be hinged on five key growth pillars, namely manufacturing, trade and commerce, agriculture, infrastructure and environment.

According to him, he conceived the idea of building a new Abia based on his experience during the election campaigns which afforded him the opportunity to go round the state “and felt the collective yearning that Abia was due for a comprehensive transformation.”

He disclosed that he was mindful of the importance of infrastructure to economic development; hence he would focus on improving electricity, potable water, rural and urban roads and the railway system.

“Partnerships would be activated to facilitate the provision of the necessary infrastructure,” he said.

On rebuilding the economy, Ikpeazu said “our manufacturing programme will focus on re-igniting the brand ‘Made in Aba’ and make Abians once more to be proud of their products,” adding that “trade and commerce will be anchored on the regeneration of Aba and her recreation as a hub for business in West Africa.”

Ikpeazu assured that his administration was committed to ensuring that the state would claim its position as the capital of small and medium scale enterprises (SME) through the proposed new industrial city, adding that his administration would commence the development of industrial clusters within its first 100 days in office.

He said that he would “take a bold step” to tackle the worrisome problem of unemployment by empowering youths meaningfully and meeting the manpower needs of the industries, adding that plans had been concluded to launch an Education for Employment (E4E) programme.

Under this programme, Ikpeazu said that 100, 000 youths would acquire “fit-for-purpose” skills over the next four years with the pilot implementation to be kicked off at Boys Technical College (BTC) Aba within his first 100 days in office.

But he emphasised that the goals of his administration would not be achieved without the full participation and commitment of Abia people.

“We all have our roles to play on this journey; I therefore solicit your support,” he said, adding that all Abians “have to embrace and live the five Abia values” of performance, ownership, innovation, commitment and integrity, which according to him, would define the new Abia.

Governor Ikpeazu has, meanwhile, appointed his personal aides. They are as follows:

Chief of Staff: Chijioke Nwakudu; Deputy COS: John Nwangborogwu; Secretary to State Govt: Eme Okoro; Chief of protocol; Valentine Okpechi; SSA Security Captain Awa Kalu; SA Special duties Ukpai Kalu; SSA Media Ugochukwu Emezuo; Solomon Ogunji (SA); and Godwin Adindu (Chief Press Secretary).

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu addressing Abians . . . Tuesday in Umuahia.