By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

The Anambra state commissioner for information, Dr. Law Mefor, has said that the Obosi 1 Household 2 Skills Programme (OBISEP) is the formula for extirpating poverty in families in Obosi.

He made the statement at Obosi town hall on October 21, 2025 during the graduation ceremonies for the three hundred and fifty graduands of the Obosi 1 Household 2 Skills Programme, who were trained in both vocational skills and entrepreneurship.

Speaking to journalists during the event, Mefor stated that the Obosi town’s empowerment and skill acquisition programme, which is unique, is a formidable tool for removing poverty in families.

He further said that the eradication of poverty in Obosi through the execution of the programme would help to reduce the occurrence of crimes in the town.

“The Obosi empowerment programme is unique because it is family centred. They believe that families should be targeted. And if it is sustained, it means that Obosi has introduced a formula with which poverty would be vanished in families,” Mefor said.

During the event, the chairman of the Obosi Development Union (ODU) Skills Acquisition and Palliative Committee, Nze Chisom Onugha, who doubles as the initiator of OBISEP, narrated that three hundred and fifty people had successfully completed their training in vocational apprenticeship and entrepreneurship skills.

“ We started this programme in 2023, and deployed seven hundred people (trainees) to various training centres.

“Out of that seven hundred trainees, we graduated five hundred people in vocational skills.

“And after the completion of their vocational training, they were enrolled for training in entrepreneurial skills.

“Happily, today, three hundred and fifty persons, who had undergone vocational and entrepreneurial skills training, successfully, are being graduated for certification,” Onugha said.

Nze Onugha further stated that the graduands would advance to the mentorship level, which entails the monitoring and supervision of their businesses to ensure that they do not go under.

He stated that each graduand would receive a half of the financial aid, which is due to him or her, the remainder of which would be given to the graduand after the expiration of his or her three months of receiving mentorship.

“After this stage, we will have mentorship stage.

“Financial aid will be given to you; and after three months of monitoring your businesses, we will give you the remainder of your money,” Onugha said.

More so, the President General of the Obosi Development Union (ODU), Barr. Chimezie Obi, expressed appreciation to the OBISEP donors, whose financial support for the programme, has sustained it.

In addition, he congratulated the graduands for painstakingly and dedicatedly learning the vocational and entrepreneurial skills, which culminated in their earning of certificates.

“I congratulate you all for successfully qualifying to graduate from this programme.

“And I am extending my thankfulness to the sponsors of OBISEP, especially Barr. Emeka Uyamadu, for supporting this initiative, financially,” Obi said.

Earlier, the traditional ruler of Obosi (Eze Iweka III), who was represented by Chief Okey Mgbemena, described OBISEP as a worthwhile and laudable initiative, and prayed for the graduands’ prosperity.

Other important dignitaries that attended the event were Engr. Chito Onuzulike, Anambra state manager of SMEDAN; Chief Christopher U Okafor, OBISEP Technical Team Leader; Lady Ebele Ononiru, Director of Mass Agency for Informal and Adult Education; Obosi Development Union (ODU) Women leader, Augusta Ebunam; and others.

•Chiedu is from the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.