Umuahia — Wife of the Abia State governor, Lady Mercy Odorchi Orji, yesterday expressed the commitment of the state government towards empowering youths and women in the state.

The Abia first lady spoke after inspecting the state's skills acquisition centre. According to her, the center which would be run in collaboration with the state SURE-P, will make beneficiaries to be self reliant. "When youths acquire skills in different areas, they would be self reliant and would be able to contribute positively to the state manpower development," she said. In an interview, the state coordinator of SURE-P, Mrs. Bisiola Nwakudo, said the participants would train in hotel management, beauty therapy, interior decoration, hair dressing, and fish farming among others.