The Senator representing Abia Central senatorial district, Senator Austin Akobundu has intensified his efforts towards enhancing human capital development(HCD) in his constituency.
He said that no meaningful impact could be made on the citizenry by elected or appointed political office holder if the issue of building the capacity of the people to be self-sufficient was not prioritised.
Akobundu expressed this view on Thursday November 14, 2024 while flagging off two road projects, Oloko-Amizi road and Oloko-Ugbuebulle road at Ahiaeke Oloko in Ikwuano Local Government.
He explained that his belief in the transformative role of human capital development informed his resolve to focus on projects and programmes that have direct impact on his constituents.
“What we’re attracting are things that will not only energise the economy, enhance interconnectivity and make the people to be self reliant, but projects that enable the youth in our district to become employers of labour rather than job seekers,” he said,
“I’m passionate about the welfare of our people and that informed my decision to start not only this accelerated building of infrastructures, but also human capital development of our youths”.
Akobundu noted that his HCD initiatives have started yielding the expected results as many youths in Abia Central “have been trained and empowered in various skills in the areas of agriculture, fishing, painting, cosmetology, educational training, among others.
“We’re currently training 113 youths at the National Teachers Institute (NTI) with full payment of their school fees and allowances,” he said, adding, “we’re also currently training our youths on digital marketing and other online skills”
Akobundu made it clear that there is no room for discrimination or segregation in the slection of beneficiaries for all his training and empowerment programmes.
He emphasised that “the most important thing is to equip our people, men, women and youths in all areas of human entrepreneurship” hence the issue of segregation has no place.
The Abia Central Senator stated that HCD enhances the society as people are the direct beneficiaries. hence party affiliation, religious and ethnic leanings are never considered in empowerment of the people.
Akobundu, who is the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Planning and Economic Affairs, said that the welfare of the people must be paramount in the execution of whatever project a political leader should embark on.
Though he is barely a year in the Senate, Akobundu said he has so far attracted over 10 developmental projects, including the engagement of women and youths in his senatorial district, as well as their financial empowerment and capacity development.
As part of the events, Akobundu inspected the remodeled health centre at Ahiaeke Oloko he single handedly equipped to serve the healthcare needs of the people.
He revealed that his “Light the Markets Initiative”, which targets at least two markets in each of the six LGs of Abia Central, has commenced, adding that lighting the markets would enhance economic activities and wealth creation.
A member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Collin Iheonunekwu, in his remarks at the event, commended Senator Akobundu for devoting much of his time at the Senate to improving the welfare of his constituents.
Iheonunekwu, who represents Isiala Ngwa North state constituency, expressed satisfaction that the Abia Central Senator has done so much within a short period of time he has been in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.
The State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Amah Abraham represented by the Assistant Secretary of party, Deacon Obioma Igwe, said that Senator Akobundu has raised the bar in legislative business.
He noted that no Senator that had represented Abia Central since 1999 had done so much as Akobundu has done within a short period of taking his seat in the Senate following his inauguration on November 15, 2023.