The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Officers’ Wives Association (NAFRCOWA) at the weekend empowered 48 indigent widows and orphans with equipment and seed funds for small businesses.
This empowerment exercise followed a 12-week skills acquisition training for the beneficiaries at NAFRC on catering, leather works, fashion designing, hairdressing and make-up arts, among others.
The Nation reports that the association donated hair dryers, ovens, mixers, electric kitchen scales, a hair washer and drainer, and an industrial machine for shoe and bag making, among several other kits to the beneficiaries at their graduation ceremony last Friday.
Speaking at the event, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Doctrine Command, Rear Admiral Akinga Ayafa commended NAFRCOWA for the gesture, which he said would greatly reduce unemployment in the communities.
He said skill acquisition was one of the guaranteed ways to economic growth and national prosperity, stressing that it was impossible for the entire populace to have paid employment.
The FOC said that the nation was faced with several challenges ranging from insecurity, unemployment and low economic growth amongst others, therefore, the importance of skill acquisition in Nigeria could not be overemphasised.
“The phenomenon of skill acquisition has gained unique significance because of its role in socio-economic development of the nation as the driving force in economic growth and job creation.
“One of the major causes of our low economic growth can be attributed to lack of relevant skills among the citizens, leading to over-dependency on foreign-made products.
“One good thing about skill acquisition either vocational or technical is that, it has no age limit and everyone has equal opportunity to thrive in the open market,” he said.
According to him, the skills anyone acquires differentiate them from others irrespective of academic qualifications or attainment.
“You have been empowered to take up the challenge of alleviating the problems of unemployment in our nation. You must take up this challenge by putting into good use the knowledge gained through the establishment of small and medium scale enterprises that will create employment opportunities,” he said.
Reminding the beneficiaries of the huge financial costs involved in training and empowering them, Ayafa said they should not take the opportunity for granted and work towards giving back to society in the nearest future.
“This financial implication was taken care of by the Centre through NAFRCOWA as part of the association’s Corporate Social Responsibility. I, therefore urge you to be passionate, dedicated and innovative in your chosen vocations and ensure that this investment by NAFRCOWA does not go in vain.
“I implore you to exercise patience in your dealings with potential clients, maintain a positive attitude and good marketing skills at all times to grow your business.
“There is a high rate of criminal activities in the open market and as such, you must remain vigilant and prudent in the management of your hard-earned resources,” he added.
NAFRCOWA Coordinator, Mrs Naomi Lubo said that the skill acquisition programme was aimed at assisting the less privileged within NAFRC’s immediate community, adding that over 300 persons have benefitted from the gesture since inception.
She said: “The participants were exposed to the modern trends to give them a competitive edge hereafter. I strongly believe these noble virtues coupled with hard work will assure our graduands of success as entrepreneurs in a challenging business environment.”
One of the beneficiaries, Godwin Ekanem, who specialised in Leather Works, said he was grateful for the opportunity which he believed would not only improve his life but that of his family.
“This will go a long way in helping me realise my dream of becoming an entrepreneur in future. I now have the skills and necessary equipment to start making shoes and bags for sale and this will give me the opportunity to assist my mother who is a petty trader,” Ekanem said.
