NAN-H-44
Skills
By Martha Agas
Jos, Feb. 12, 2018 (NAN) An NGO, Japanese International Corporation, has trained 30 skills acquisition instructors as part of efforts to revive moribund women development centres in the country, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
According to Ms Atim Esuekong, the Lead Facilitator of the training, the programme was carried out in collaboration with the National Women Development Centre (NWDC), Abuja.
“The programme is part of efforts to empower women to become self-reliant,” she said on Monday in Jos at the graduation ceremony of the trainees.
She regretted that women training centres had not been active for several years, and expressed confidence that the trained instructors would restore life to them.
According to her, the instructors are for skills like tailoring, catering services and production of household items such as liquid soap, air fresheners and disinfectants.
She said that the training was targeted at grass root women across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), and advised the instructors to put in their best to empower the rural women with relevant skills.
“In Nigeria, women constitute the poorest group; the only solution to this is to empower them to be self-reliant.
“We expect those trained to conduct a step-down training in their communities so that we can reach more women,” she said.
Earlier in her remarks, Mrs. Hassana Ayika, Permanent Secreatary, Plateau Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, had said that the training would increase the source of livelihood for women and augment government efforts toward accelerated development.
She advised the instructors to discharge their duties effectively and help rural women to support their families, establish businesses and even employ others.
Mrs. Felicia Yakzun, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs and Social Development, said that government was working toward creating an enabling environment for women development.
She said that Mrs. Regina Lalong, wife of the Governor, recently distributed fertilizer to grassroots women as part of efforts to support their source of livelihood.
Yakzun urged the facilitators of the programme to extend the gesture to youths to reduce indolence that could create the temptation to engage in nefarious activities.
NAN reports that sewing machines, gas cookers and cylinders were later shared to women centres in the state. (NAN)
MAA/KOLE/ETS
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