By PAMELA EBOH Awka

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has awarded N50 million to 500 beneficiaries of the State Chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Skill Acquisition programme.

Soludo disclosed this o Thursday when PFN held a rededication ceremony for Jesus Our Physician Specialist Hospital (JOPH) and graduation ceremony for the beneficiaries of their skill programme in Amawbia.

The Governor assured the beneficiaries of access to funding from cooperatives.

While highlighting the PFN's vital role in empowering the youth and contributing to the state's development, Soludo commended the PFN state Chairman for his successful re-election, even as he emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in building a better society

According to the governor, the financial support is in line with his government effort towards eliminating poverty.

A statement signed by the Press Secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime said the PFN programme compliments the government's "one youth, two skills' initiative, incorporates character and value orientation, adding that it is an additional support to their start-up grant, which will also be awarded to them by the PFN.

Soludo's words: "We can't work separately. The body of Christ is one, and we must come together in the spirit of ecumenism."

"There is need for a Public Community Private Partnership (PCPP) approach, where individuals, industries, and the church will play their respective parts to achieve a prosperous Anambra.

He further acknowledged the PFN as a critical stakeholder in his administration's PCPP strategy and expressed his vision of building a society with zero poverty.

He added: "Many people say it is not attainable, but we can get it done if we all put our minds to it."

The Governor also encouraged a shift in perspective, to start seeing things differently and working collectively towards a common goal even as he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Anambra.

Earlier, the Anambra State Chairman of PFN, Bishop Moses Ezedebego, emphasized that their role extends beyond winning souls for Christ.

He said that they actively partner with the state government and contribute significantly to development and nation-building, as demonstrated by their recent training of over 500 youths.

In his speech, the PFN Coordinator for Training, Ethical and Value Reorientation and Skill Acquisition Initiative, Mark Odogwu highlighted the PFN Skills and Empowerment Programme as a project that partnered with Governor Soludo's "1 Youth 2 Skills" initiative.

He added that it offers skills like leatherwork, sewing, wig design, crushing, bead design, confectionery, cosmetology, fishery, piggery, business management, and marketing. These skills will be the foundation for an economic revolution in the state.