NAN-HE-19
Skills
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Feb. 15, 2018 (NAN) The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Nigeria, says it has trained no fewer than 300 women and youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs on different vocational skills.
NEPAD’s National Coordinator, Princess Gloria Akobundu, said this at the closing of a five-day Skills Acquisition Workshop for Women and Vulnerable Groups on Thursday in Abuja.
She said that the women and youths were trained on how to make beads, cake, soap, make-up and barbing.
Akobundu said that the workshop was meant to improve the knowledge and skills of the beneficiaries to prepare them to establish small businesses for sustenance as well as make them employers of labour.
“This is a way of alleviating poverty in the society and reducing the level of unemployment among the youth.
“I believe that more than 300 of you that have acquired various skills will justify the resources government spent on you in the course of your training with a view to making sure that government achieves its objectives.
“However, due to paucity of funds, we would not provide starter-packs for all of you, except the 150 participants in beads, cake making, make-up and barbing classes who were outstanding during the training,” she said.
The coordinator urged the beneficiaries to serve as NEPAD champions and change agents in their various communities by propagating the objectives and outcome of the training.
According to her, one of the core mandates of NEPAD is identifying policies, projects and programmes of the government.
Akobundu said NEPAD mandates were aimed at promoting good governance, poverty eradication, youth and women empowerment and sustainable growth and development.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the training was meant to create jobs and alleviate poverty as well as promoting sustainable growth and development.
Mustapha, represented by Alhaji Ali Grema, the Director, Economic Affairs, Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, urged the beneficiaries to put what they had learnt into practice.
“I urge you to establish yourself; don’t think about getting white collar jobs with this type of training you have acquired.
“If you manage yourself very well, the sky will be your limit,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries, and presentation of starter- packs to the 150 outstanding participants. (NAN)
CIA/SA/EEE
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Edited by Salif Atojoko/Ese E. Ekama