By Chinazaekpere Chinwendu
October 7, 2026 —
The Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government Council, Dr. Anthony N. Nwaubani, FCA, FCIB, has urged beneficiaries of the IDEAS-TVET Cohort 3 programme to take the skills acquisition opportunity seriously, describing vocational training as a veritable pathway to economic independence, entrepreneurship and employment creation.
Nwaubani made the call during the joint flag-off ceremony of the IDEAS-TVET Cohort 3 held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Pious Anyim Auditorium of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State. The programme is a Federal Ministry of Education initiative designed to equip young people with practical skills for improved livelihoods.
Speaking, Nwaubani stressed that the economic well-being of citizens should remain central to governance, noting that initiatives that equip people with sustainable skills are more impactful in the long term than temporary financial assistance.
According to him, the essence of the programme is to empower beneficiaries with the capacity to create wealth for themselves and others. He urged the trainees to approach the training with commitment, discipline and determination throughout the programme.
The Ikwuano Mayor further challenged the beneficiaries to look beyond acquiring certificates and focus on becoming entrepreneurs and employers of labour. He envisioned a situation where beneficiaries would return after the training to establish businesses, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of Abia State.
Nwaubani commended the Federal Ministry of Education, the World Bank, trainers, the university and other stakeholders involved in the initiative, describing their collaboration as a significant investment in the future of young Nigerians and an injection of entrepreneurial spirit in our education system.
The IDEAS-TVET programme coordinated by the College of Applied Food Sciences and Tourism, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, under Prof. Stella Chigozie Ubbor as the Dean, focuses on baking and confectionery, with trainees receiving hands-on training in the production of bread, biscuits, cakes, doughnuts and other confectioneries. The Dean of the College disclosed that hundreds of applications were received before the screening exercise produced the successful trainees.
She explained that the practical training would be followed by industrial training, giving beneficiaries an opportunity to consolidate their skills through practical exposure.
Speaking earlier, the Representative of the National Head of Monitoring & Evaluation, Mr Ahmed Adegoke maintained that the IDEAS-TVET initiative, with its focus on practical skills, entrepreneurship and employment creation, is expected to provide participating youths with the tools to become self-reliant and contribute to local economic growth. He urged the beneficiaries to demonstrate seriousness and commitment over the programme.
For Mayor Nwaubani, the ultimate measure of the programme's success would be seeing beneficiaries transform their newly acquired skills into viable enterprises that create opportunities for others.