17th January, 2015
President Goodluck Jonathan said his administration will create special fund for the empowerment of youths in the country.
Jonathan announced this at the PDP Presidential Campaign in Umuahia, Abia state on Friday. The President said the fund would be set up through the Ministry of Finance for easy access by the youths.
According to him, my administration will help young Nigerians to identify and harness their potentials for greatness.
“The year 2015 is for young Nigerians, we must help the youths to identify and harness their talents,” he said.
Jonathan said he would step up efforts towards job creation from 1.2 million in 2014 to two million jobs annually, if re-elected for a second term.
The President also said that he would encourage Nigerian women to get both national and international appointments.
He described Nigerian women as exceptionally brilliant adding that they had contributed immensely to national development.
Jonathan cited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as one of the brains behind the transformation of the economy.
“We will do more for the young people and women because they are creative and enterprising as demonstrated in the music and movie industry,” he said.
He also promised that there would be an improvement in the power sector to facilitate industrial growth in Aba.
The President urged the people of the state to vote massively for his re-election, saying, “my wife is your daughter and I am your son.’’
The First Lady, Dame Patience, assured women that no other president would protect their interests better than her husband.
She said that Jonathan’s administration had effectively controlled infant and maternal mortality rate in the country.
The first lady also said that Jonathan had met the 35 per cent affirmative action for women and urged them to remain resolute in their belief in him by voting massively for him.
Governor Theodore Orji listed reconstruction of Abia end of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and re-opening of NNPC depot at Osisioma, as some of Federal Government’s projects for the state.
He also mentioned federal government’s intervention in erosion menace ravaging some parts of the state.
The governor commended Jonathan for his intervention in wiping out kidnapping in the state and assured him that the state would vote massively for him.
Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said Jonathan’s administration had done a lot to transform the economy including creation of more than 1.2 million jobs in 2014.
The National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, urged Abia PDP to work with former Governor Orji Kalu to be part of the development of the state.
According to Muazu, Kalu is working with us in Abuja and he had shown great commitment toward the realisation of the re-election of the President.
Also present were Vice President Namadi Sambo, National Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, and his deputy, former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra.
They urged the people to vote for the party at the general elections.
Former national chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, assured the president of total support from the state, adding that, “go home and sleep”.
Highlight of the event was the handover of the party’s flag to the governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.