Renowned Port Harcourt-based real estate developer, My-ACE China, popularly known as the “Mayor of Housing,” has inaugurated an entrepreneurship and craft centre in Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The centre has commenced training its first batch of 100 trainees, with China personally sponsoring 30 of them. The initiative aims to foster entrepreneurial skills and self-reliance among local youths.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony at Enwang, the headquarters of Mbo LGA, China urged political leaders and state authorities to focus on empowering youths through skill acquisition rather than handouts. He disclosed that his Special Assistant, Anthony Andemic, who also chairs the entrepreneurial committee, facilitated the choice of Mbo for the centre. China contributed an initial N5 million to rehabilitate and set up the facility and announced a further N9 million to train and equip the 30 sponsored trainees, providing each with machinery and start-up capital.
China, the Managing Director of Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, commended the Mbo local government chairman, Sunday Etim, describing him as a rare leader systematically lifting youths out of poverty in manageable cohorts. He urged political leaders to adopt a similar approach: “Arise and fish, not by taking government money and sharing it, but by creating sustainable opportunities for the youth.”
Chairman Etim highlighted that the project had previously been abandoned and vandalized but has now been revitalized. He assured that the centre would maintain professional standards and encouraged trainees to take the programme seriously, emphasizing entrepreneurship as a pathway to wealth and independence.
The Mbo Vocational and Craft Centre has been designed as a multipurpose technical and vocational institution, offering training in fields including Cosmetics, Catering, Fashion and Design, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Future programmes will expand to Wood Furniture and Carpentry, Mechanical Engineering and Auto Repairs, Agriculture, and other specialized trades. Graduates will have the opportunity to sit for nationally and internationally recognized certifications such as NASTEB, Trade Test Certification, and other professional qualifications.
Plans are also underway to comprehensively fence the centre, equip classrooms and workshops with modern facilities, and create inclusive and accessible learning spaces. China called on the Petroleum Trust Fund, corporate organisations, private sector operators, and the diaspora to partner in expanding the centre, sponsoring students, providing tools, offering internships, and supporting start-ups.
The trainees will receive a six-month training allowance of N60,000 and a starter pack of N500,000 upon completion. China announced that subsequent batches would commence immediately after the first, with the programme continuing until the end of his tenure. He also unveiled the N300 million Mbo Entrepreneurship Trust Fund, aimed at unlocking the economic potential of local communities, empowering youths, and driving inclusive prosperity across Mbo.
