NAN-HG-6
Empowerment
By Veronica Dariya
Bwari (FCT), Nov. 30, 2017 (NAN) No fewer than 380 girls in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have acquired training in various vocations under the “Feed the Future Nigeria Project’’.
According to an official of Justice Development and Peace Commission, Mrs Grace Osofodunrin, the essence of the project is to make the beneficiaries future entrepreneurs.
Speaking to newsmen at the graduation held on Thursday in Bwari, Osofodurin, Coordinator of the commission in the council, explained that the girls were selected from four communities namely; Kawo, Fibu, Shere and Ushafa.
She said the beneficiaries were between the ages of 18 and 25, adding that some of them had no job, while others did not have any form of education.
“Basically, the idea is to empower girls in the different communities, especially those who don’t go to school to acquire skills that can make them self reliant and entrepreneurs.
“Most of them are between the ages of 18 to 25 and are neither working or in school.
“For those who are in school, it would help them support themselves after school.
“Today, over 380 of them are graduating from four communities of the area council, that is, Kawo, Fibu, Shere and Ushafa areas.”
Oshofodunrin said that the beneficiaries acquired skills in bead- making, detergent production, and tailoring among others, adding that the organisation would mark the graduation of another set of beneficiaries by Feb. 2018.
In her goodwill message, Ms Mary Ishaya, Head of Personnel, Bwari Area Council, urged the organisation to do more toward ensuring that their services were available everywhere.
She said that the council would strive to maintain the existing relationship with the NGO to enhance development at the grassroots.
Ishaya gave assurance that the council would monitor the progress of the beneficiaries in their respective trades and vocations.
She also urged the graduands to make good use of their skills to earn a living in their communities.
Some of the graduates, who spoke to newsmen, expressed gratitude to the organisers while promising to make use of their skills to impact positively on their various communities.
An indigene of Shere-koro, Malama Zabba’u Ibrahim said that aside from learning bead- making, bakery and detergent, she also learnt how to observe personal hygiene.
“Before now, I took my bath only once a day but through this programme, I was made to understand that taking a bath three times a day was not harmful.
“Especially for a lady who is in her menstrual circle.
“Before now, some girls in my community carry a sanitary towel on their bodies for two days, causing infection, but now, most of us are aware of the implications; thanks to this project. ”
Also, Patience Yohanna said that she had learned to make little savings from her earnings and planned to rent a shop where she could teach others to be self-reliant as well.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ‘Feed the Future Project’ is a multi-faceted programme, sponsored by USAID and supported by the Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps and the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria. (NAN)
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Edited by Ese E. Ekama