The First Lady of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, has assured the Director of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Anambra State, Mrs. Inyang Bassey Ekpe, of her readiness to partner with the service in furtherance of the skills acquisition programmes of her pet project Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ). She gave the assurance when the director led the NYSC team on a courtesy visit to her office yesterday at Government House Awka.

Mrs. Obiano said that she is thrilled that NYSC intervention goes beyond the orientation programmes for corpers to include empowerment initiatives which are in line with CAFE activities. “Rest assured that we will work together in skills acquisition which my pet project CAFÉ is currently doing by training women in various skills. I believe that not only graduates are meant to acquire skills; now your people will collaborate with us to train others to be useful to themselves and the society,” she said.

Mrs. Obiano restated her belief that youth corpers can assist her in the on-going empowerment programmes. She noted that the more people she is able to get engaged the less the crime rate in the state. “I thank God for my husband, His Excellency Chief Willie Obiano’s foresight and approach to crime-fighting. The improved security in Anambra is attracting investors and ensuring that our children serving here are living freely and are secure,” she stated.

Mrs. Obiano also told the Director that CAFÉ’s collaboration with NYSC in the area of education will include weekend and evening classes for women who could not attend regular classes. She observed that whether one is trading or engaged in other petty ventures one needs some knowledge to be able to do it well.

Earlier, the Director had told Mrs. Obiano that the NYSC is happy with Governor Obiano because he has shown that he is NYSC friendly. “The Governor made it a priority to secure and protect NYSC participants in the state, and we note with satisfaction that almost all corpers got accommodated while those who did not get are paid in lieu of accommodation,” she stated.

Speaking further Mrs. Ekpe told Mrs. Obiano: “We came to appreciate you and your husband for the good work you are doing and to propose partnership with you in your empowerment projects, skills acquisition and community development. We teach the Corpers and afterwards they go into the community to teach others.”

She also explained that the NYSC has health groups with capacity to render house-to-house medical support in the rural areas and mass literacy programme as well as skills acquisition training in tailoring, shoe-making, fishery, and can tap into the agric programme of the government.

•Photo shows Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano with the visiting NYSC team.