A Non Governmental Organization, Henry Beedie Foundation has empowered some youths from Delta with sewing machine, farm implement, clippers and other starter packs.

Founder of the Foundation, Mr Henry Beedie said he was moved to empower some of the youths in the state as his own way of contributing to the reduction of the high unemployment rate in the country.

He urged other well meaning Nigerians to look for ways to help the teeming unemployed youths in the country saying that all the youths needed was to be gainfully engaged.

Beedie also appealed to the youths in the country to be focused in life adding that they should have the right priority in they most succeed in life.

He said, “I know a lot of youths who will be given money to do something good but ended up buying cars that they maintain. This kind of mindset must change.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Shola Mese Foundation, Deacon Shola Mese, commended Henry Beedie for the programme.

He said, “I want to thank the Henry Beedie for what they are doing for the youths. This is why we are partnering with them so that they will be able to do more. I believe that if they are able to do more of this kind of project, they will reduce the rate of crime in our society. You can see the number of people that were empowered today.

“The programme is a Loudable one. If every NGO will key into this kind of program to encourage the youths, it will reduce the rate of violence we are seeing in the country. This is a very Loudable project.

“It’s pathetic that the government is not partnering with the NGOs to cushion the unemployment rate by assisting them. Most of the NGOs are not politicians, they are just out to help. So if you can reach out to the NGOs who the youths believe in, it will go a long way to help a lot of youths.”

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Sagbama/Ekeremo Federal Constituency, Bayelsa, Egbedi Yetemine Frederick, also commended Henry Beedie for trying to lift some youths out of the employment market.

He said, “The programme is an excellent idea. The founder, Mr Henry Beedie has been empowering youths for some years now.

“This is why I came all the way from Bayelsa to support and encourage him and ensure that together we build the youths to have a better tomorrow.

“This is the most crucial and important creed to society development. If the youths are not well empowered, if they are not well trained and if they don’t have a profession, a trade or skill, of course you know your society cannot grow or develop.

“It is efforts like this that supports what government is doing to ensure that the youths are gainfully employed.

“I have to congratulate him for spending his time and cracking his brain all the time to ensure that he uses his little hard earned money to ensure that he empowers the youths. This is quiet a great thing and I congratulate him.”

He adviced the youths to build self confident, be focused, law abiding, adding that they should also think of something to do. All these big establishments you see today started very small.

“Don’t think of the so much that you are seeing. But think of the so little that you can grow to become so much. By so doing you will understand the implications and complications of life and grow with it.

“The youths should take this kind of empowerment and develop themselves with it and not be like some other youths who will receive this kind of of empowerment and before you know it, they have sold them and squandered the money.

“If you are doing this you are destroying your tomorrow. It is not the person that empowers you that you are destroying, but your future.

“Be a youth that is focused. Ensure that whatever you get, you turn it to something bigger no matter how small because God has given you the power to turn whatever small to become as big as you want,” Egbedi said.

Winners of the raffle draw are; Graphics Design training – Winners (Efe Akpotu and Umukoro Joy Equono), Fashion & Design training – Winners (Odafe .o. Edwa and Tsetimi Martin), Catering services training -Winner (Ovakprey), Make Over training Winner (Obiefuka Ebube).

Others are; Igele/hair tie training Winner: (Komuvi Excellent), Farming tools Winner: (Obiefuka Ebube), Bricks layer tools Winner (Ugan Chidimina), Clippers Winner (Peace John and Midwest Godspower), Mechanical tools Winner (Obaeski Mabel), Electrical tools Winner (Emmanuel Udeagu, Yole and Ujemefuna Victory).

Generator Winner (Ahmed Tijani), Dictionary Winner (Udeogu favour Ijeoma), Inspirational books Winner: (Nesiangbo Blessing and Oladokun Sahmed), Pressing Iron Winner (Nwiwyinya Ebube), and Sewing machine Winner (Friday Itua).