By Amb. Monyeazor Oluebube Sunday
Bende Federal Constituency is not just any constituency. It is the ancestral home of Abia State. Home of warriors, traders, intellectuals and great men and women.
From the famous Bende hills, to the markets of Uzuakoli, to the rice fields of Igbere, to the business clusters of Item, Alayi, Ozuitem, Umuhu Ezechi, Nkpa, and Ugwueke – Bende has everything.
Except one thing: We have not had a VOICE in Abuja that understands that our greatest asset – our YOUTHS – is bleeding.
Today in Bende, over 60% of our population are youths under 35. Energetic, brilliant, God-fearing. But what do they have?
- A First Class graduate from ABSU riding Keke in Umuahia because there is no job.
- A lady who learned tailoring for 2 years but cannot afford a N250,000 sewing machine.
- A young boy who can edit videos like a pro but is using a cracked phone with no laptop.
- Farmers in Ozuitem and Item still using manual tools while the world has moved to mechanized farming.
This is not because Bende youths are lazy. It is because the system has abandoned them.
Hon. Pascal Karibe Ojigwe is coming to correct this.
Hon. Karibe is not a stranger to service. Long before politics, he has been known in Bende as a man who LISTENS. A man whose doors are open. A man who gives without making noise.
He is a son of the soil, who understands the language of the market woman, the pain of the Okada rider, the frustration of the unemployed graduate.
His entire campaign is built on 5 pillars, but today we focus on the most important: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: Creating Opportunities For Our Future.
He says: “You cannot talk about Bende’s future without talking about Bende’s youths. If we lose our youths, we have lost Bende.”
THE COMPREHENSIVE 8-POINT YOUTH EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT FOR BENDE BY HON. KARIBE OJIGWE
1. BENDE YOUTH SKILL-UP PROJECT (BYSP) – SKILLS THAT PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE
Hon. Karibe will push as a matter of URGENT legislative action for the approval and construction of a Federal Skill Acquisition Centre in Bende LGA, with annex in Item.
This is not the usual “come and collect certificate” empowerment. This is real skill for real money.
Courses will include:
a) Renewable Energy: Solar panel installation, inverter maintenance – Abia needs power, our youths will be the solution.
b) Construction Skills: Tiling, POP, Welding, Plumbing – So Bende youths can build Bende.
c) Digital Economy: Graphic Design, Web Development, Video Editing, Content Creation, AI Prompt Engineering, Social Media Management.
d) Fashion & Beauty: Professional tailoring, shoe making, makeup.
e) Modern Agriculture: Mechanized farming, poultry, fishery, snailery, cassava and rice processing.
AFTER TRAINING: Every graduate will go home with a START-UP KIT. Not empty hand. The tailor gets a sewing machine, the solar installer gets a tool box, the content creator gets a laptop support grant. We empower to EMPLOY, not to just train.
Target: 1,000 Bende youths trained and equipped.
2. BENDE ENTERPRISE FUND (BEF) – REAL MONEY FOR REAL BUSINESS
Hon. Pascal Karibe knows ideas die without money. He will use his office to create a pipeline to federal money.
- Facilitation of Millions yearly from Bank of Industry (BOI), SMEDAN, NIRSAL and CBN intervention funds for Bende youth businesses.
- Creation of Bende Business Registration Help Desk: His constituency office will help youths register CAC, write business plans and access loans for FREE.
- Special Quota: Minimum 40% of all opportunities reserved for YOUNG WOMEN and 10% for People Living With Disabilities.
- NDE Youth Agricultural Empowerment: Empower Bende youths yearly to access non-collateral agricultural loans and inputs.
3. EDUCATION FOR ALL – NO BRILLIANT CHILD SHOULD SUFFER
A Bende that does not educate its youths has no future.
- Hon. Pascal Karibe Ojigwe Annual Scholarship Scheme: 50 undergraduates from Bende Federal Constituency across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with a financial support per student.
- Free JAMB & WAEC Coaching: Free intensive coaching centres in most communities for our secondary school students.
- Legislative Push: Hon. Karibe will lobby for TETFund projects, Federal Government bursary, and infrastructural upgrades in Communities in Bende Federal Constituency.
4. SPORTS & CREATIVE INDUSTRY REVIVAL – FROM BENDE TO THE WORLD
Bende has talent that the world has not seen.
- Annual “BENDE GOT TALENT & FOOTBALL FIESTA”: A 2-week event bringing together football scouts from Enyimba, Abia Warriors, and Super Eagles, plus Nollywood producers, music producers and comedy promoters.
- Prizes: Winners get sponsorship, not just handshakes.
- Renovation of 3 community fields into mini-stadiums: Bende Central, Item, and Igbere.
- Support for Bende creatives to shoot videos, record songs and promote content.
5. BENDE DIASPORA & MENTORSHIP NETWORK
There are thousands of successful Bende sons and daughters in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, USA, UK, Canada. Hon. Karibe will build a database – Bende Global Family – and link them to mentor 10 youths each at home.
Mentorship leads to internship. Internship leads to jobs.
6. THE BENDE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (BYAC) – GOVERNMENT THAT LISTENS
For the first time in Bende’s history, the youths will have a seat at the table.
A 15-member Youth Advisory Council, with 2 representatives from each major clan (Bende, Igbere, Item, Ozuitem, Umuhu, Alayi, Nkpa/Ugwueke) plus women and PLWD representation, will meet with Hon. Karibe every quarter.
They will tell him what to do. They will audit his projects. Government by the people.
7. FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE & HOPELESSNESS
Hon. Karibe Ojigwe is worried about the rise of Mkpurummiri, Colorado and other drugs destroying our boys. He will partner with NDLEA, the Church and traditional rulers for:
- Quarterly Anti-Drug Awareness Campaigns in secondary schools.
- Rehabilitation support and reintegration for victims.
- Establishment of Bende Youths Against Drug Abuse (BYADA) Volunteers.
8. DIGITAL BENDE PROJECT
Hon. Karibe will facilitate FREE Wi-Fi zones in Bende town and Item to help students and young business owners. In 2027, internet is not a luxury, it is a tool.
Many have come with promises. Hon. Karibe is coming with a PLAN.
He is not going to the House of Representatives to shout “Yea” and collect salary. He is going to bring back projects, to argue for Bende, to put Bende on the national map, to attract federal presence.
He is a man with a track record of helping quietly. Now he wants to help LOUDLY.
Bende does not need a seat occupant. Bende needs a VOICE, a FIGHTER, a BUILDER.
Hon. Karibe Ojigwe is EXPERIENCED. He is CAPABLE. He is COMMITTED.
The future of Bende is not in Abuja. The future of Bende is in the hands of Bende youths. Hon. Karibe will only help you unlock it.
BENDE DESERVES MORE! LET’S BUILD A NEW BENDE TOGETHER.
_Hon. Pascal Karibe Ojigwe is the Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Bende Federal Constituency, Federal House of Representatives. Let support and vote for him maka Odinma Ndi Bende!
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