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Tag: skills

  • Lagos empowers over 2000 with skills

    Lagos empowers over 2000 with skills

    In its quest to eradicate poverty among its citizens in the state, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation at the weekend distributed various empowerment equipments such as grinding, sewing/whipping and hairdressing machines to over 2000 widows, vulnerable and unemployed citizens.

    Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule said the programme was a dividend of democracy in fulfillment of the promises made by the present administration. She however enjoined the beneficiaries to continue to support the administration for them to get more dividends.

    In her own remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande said adequate care for this group is in line with this administration total commitment to eradicating poverty in all its forms among the citizens of the state and its major thrust of all inclusive governance.

    According to her, the state government has provided the enablement materials for at the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas in the state to meet the challenges and demands of labour market and reduce the rate of unemployment.

    Speaking further, Akande explained that the Survival Aid Kit which was included in the equipments being given away was added to enable members of the families to take care of themselves in the event of minor injuries resulting from domestic or minor accidents in homes.

    She however commended Dangote Foundation for supporting the Ministry with 100 food items each of Dangote Sugar, Salt, Spaghetti, Danvita and Wheatmeal.

    In an interview with some of the beneficiaries, Fausat Hassan of Surulere Local government who went home with a grinding machine appreciated the present administration for their kind gestures. “They have not only given us fishes but have also taught us how to fish, this no doubt will totally eradicate poverty in our lives and in the state as a whole,” she said.

  • ‘Skills acquisition among youths’ll curb cultism’

    A House of Representatives member of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Wale Raji, has said acquisition of skills and youth empowerment will reduce cultism and other social vices.

    Raji, who is representing Epe, addressed reporters yesterday in Lagos on his plan to ensure that youths in his constituency get the requisite skills and empowerment to take many of them from the streets.

    The lawmaker said his Youth Empowering Scheme, in partnership with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), had been training about 300 youths in his constituency.

    Raji said the participants would be given tools in their areas of skills and empowerment to be self-sufficient.

    He said: “Nobody can make them rich but an opportunity can be created for them to acquire vocational skills that will always put food on their table and make them financially independent. About 129 participants will soon graduate and the rest will be assisted to upgrade their businesses.”

  • Don plans soft skills training for students

    Recruitment consultant and Senior Lecturer, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Soji George, has identified lack of soft skills as a major reason many graduates do not readily get jobs.

    To address this problem, George is organising a two-day seminar to train students of the university who are close to graduation.

    George said his firm, J. Soji George, is partnering Exxon Mobil and a non-governmental organisation, Foundation for Leadership and Education to organise the seminar coming up on July 12 and 13 for first and second class 300 and 400-Level students of the Faculty of Business Adminstration.

    The don said inadequate funding forced him to limit the participants to only those two classes and advocated for sponsorships of more soft skills training for undergraduates.

  • IDPs learn entrepreneurial skills

    IDPs learn entrepreneurial skills

    Knowing that handouts from the public are not enough, internally displaced persons have embraced skills acquisition, GRACE OBIKE reports

    Give a man a fish, as they say, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and you feed for a lifetime. At a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Abuja, this Chinese proverb has a literal meaning.

    The IDPs depend largely on charity, but even as they cherish every handout, they still lack most of life’s basic necessities.

    Things are changing. The truth of the Chinese saying is sinking in, and the IDPs have started learning trades in order to be able to support themselves. And they are doing quite well.

    Some well-meaning entrrepreneurs have dedicated  their time and knowledge to  training the displaced persons to be self-reliant.

    The government of the Federal Capital Territory says the displaced camps are in the wrong places, meaning it is not obliged to take care of them. This attitude inspired a lot of Nigerians to take up the responsibility of giving to the displaced out of the little they have which has so far been sustaining them but some residents in some cases have gone a step further in providing education, health facilities and empowerment programmes to the IDPs. One of such organisations, the Life Builders Initiatives formed by a couple, has erected structures in Durumi and presently teaches over 1000 children. The organisation also feed the IDPs  ones a day.

    Whereas most of their parents, especially mothers, have nothing to do, a few people have taken to training the mothers as well. Recently, the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) empowered 43 women in different skills ranging from bead-making, soap making, making of hand wash, bags, flower vases and a lot more.

    The training which took place at the Maria Centre Abuja, located around the Durumi camp was coordinated by Rev. Sis. Anne Falola who explained that she had always visited the camps to provide them with relief materials but she felt that they should not simply be reduced to simply relying on people’s hands out.

    She said, “I was coming to the camp like every other person to give food and clothing but I felt that no human being should be reduced to just handouts, I feel that these people’s lives have been disrupted, their normal way of livelihood, they have lost everything in the crises and felt they should be re-equipped to face life so that the time that they are in transition and away from home can be put into a useful purpose.

    “Each time we spoke with government agencies about them, they always told us that this was a temporary thing, that we should not invest too much on them and I feel that is not right because every human life is precious. I feel that where we need to invest in our country is not in buildings but in persons; that is our greatest resources, so all this put together made me say that the little people gave to me for my birthday, let me divert it to use. I saw how downcast the women where and decided to give them a space to play and talk which brings healing in itself and in the process learn something that they will not need a lot of money to invest in, many of them are very happy because it is useful for them, it takes their minds away from being depressed now they see that they can do things, sell and make money.

    “Today 43 women graduated after three months and we were able to give a small start-up for 11, others are waiting and we want to give to all of them, with as little as N20,000 we can put something beautiful for them.

    “My dream will be that in all the suburbs, there should be empowerment centres because we don’t look at the potentials in people in this country, we look at people as problems which is a mistake, the women where really surprised when they made their first purses, they never believed it was possible before then, I have seen people from other countries come here today to say that they can actually take the items home and tell people that they bought in from Nigeria. In all the suburbs where joblessness is the daily song of people, where depression is bitting hard and people are unable to think because they don’t see a future, people need to learn to start little things, different handwork, this was how Indonesian shops where developed and now they supply to chain stores in Europe, there are wasted spaces everywhere in this country, even a little poultry will bring down the price of chicken in the market, we need to learn to stop importing stupid things in the name of joblessness, we do not actually need big money to start a lot of things.”

    Coordinator Governmental and Public Relations of the IDP camp in Area 1, Idris Ibrahim Halilu, explained that even though they appreciate being provided with food and clothing items, they will love to be self-reliant.

    He said, “The sisters of the Ladies of Apostles contacted us that they wanted to organise a skills acquisition training for our wives, widows, sisters and we welcomed the idea, we spoke with our people and got the number required to register and I had the privilege of being the translator and it has been a success story so far.

    “This is an opportunity for our women to acquire skills to enable them become self-employed and trainers to other, so they can be a relief to the society instead of depending on NGOs, individuals and the government to come to feed us, with something to do, for instance, if she is a widow, she can make use of her skills to take care of her children, which is good because the men are equally being trained because when a man gives you food, it is just for a day but being thought skills is being given food for life. If you bring a hundred thousand trailers of food, it will finish but these skills will always remain and can be imparted to others and the impact is on the larger society.

    “When they return home, this is what will sustain them and they will be eager to teach others, as we train them.”

    Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, a relief and development agency of the Catholic Bishops conference of Nigeria Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, added that the problem with the country is that, unemployment and the level of hardship in the country makes it difficult for a lot of people who would have ordinarily want to help the needy in their midst, to help because people with jobs in a family have a lot of dependants which makes it difficult for a lot of people to make much to give after providing for their families.

    His said, “We have supported the project financially and in terms of guidance, we have made substantial donations like the container with toilet facilities, sewing machines for the women etc.

    “The philanthropic culture in Nigeria is very poor, many Nigerians give so that their names can be mentioned, they give when it is relatives but to give not knowing where it will be used is poor here it is something we have to work on but it could be linked to poverty, when one has employment or a means, he has lots of dependence, so before he can take care of these dependents and reach out to people outside the circle is challenging, there is a lot of extended family and community dependency, it’s probably the reason and not that we are not generous but there are still people that can reach out and help those in need.”

    One of the beneficiaries, 17-year-old Fatima Ali from Gambarongala Local Government, who appreciated the opportunity, stated that she now believes that she has something that she can one day use to take care of not only herself but family.

    “I decided to learn because it can be a way of taking care of myself in future; if I don’t have anything doing, with this I can work for myself and get enough money to pay my bills instead of depending on anyone, with this I can become a businesswoman who can afford to take care of her family; it took me five months, now I can make bags, belts, flower vase, ear rings, bangles, key holders and lots more.”

    Another beneficiary, mother of five, 27-year-old Mariam Isah, said that she now believes that what she learnt will keep her going.

    “I learnt to make bags, soap, hand wash, vase and a lot more, they thought us a lot of skills, formerly we used to just sit at home doing nothing but now we can confidently call ourselves business women, now when I return home, I have a craft to keep me going, I have a business to use in taking care of my children.”

     

  • 200 UNN students acquire skills

    ABOUT 200 undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) benefitted from a five-day vocational training organised by vocation institution, Gazzelle Academy in partnership with Fidelity Bank.
    The students learnt tailoring and stoning design, as well as make up artistry. They were also exposed to knowledge about branding, finance, marketing, and other business skills.
    Founder of the institute, Muna Onuzo, said she was impressed with the students’ quick learning, especially as they had got no prior training in those areas.
    “The students impressed us with their quick and intuitive learning, which further justifies and reinforces the fact that Nigerians are gifted. Though it was an accelerated learning process, the beneficiaries finished their projects in time. We were pleased with their creativity, discipline and thirst to learn. When we saw what they produced after just two days of practical skill training, it became an emotional journey for my team; the Fidelity bank representatives who were our sponsors and the beneficiaries,” she said.
    Onuzo advised all tertiary students to learn a vocation before graduation to help them survive if they don’t get ready-made jobs.

    “With retrenchments all over the corporate community, we believe the youth should be equipped with at least one practical skill that would give them a fighting chance to survive if they are not able to find a job after graduation,” she said.
    The students were given sewing machines, pressing irons and makeup kits at the end of the training.
    end

  • Develop leadership skills now, pupils told

    A teen motivator, Mr Mattew Ebare, has charged pupils of Wellspring Secondary School, Omole Phase two on the advantages of building leadership skills from their teenage years.

    Ebare addressed the pupils at the school premises through ‘Real star leaders club”, a leadership oriented group with the objective of raising a new generation of leaders.

    Participants were advised to cultivate the different traits and skills of leadership which will eventually ripen and be useful whenever they are given  leadership positions.

    “A  leader will see an opportunity and pursue it to the end. He is someone who sees the end from the beginning. He pursues what he sees through self-denial, denying instant gratification for future reward”, Ebare said.

    He said the kind of leadership that is commonplace in Nigeria lacks good intent, knowledge and motives, adding that leaders are not culpable but the society which failed to develop the right traits in them from their tender ages.

    He said: “It is not surprising that our leaders betray public trust by breaking the law, rules and order. They are found in financial and sexual scandals and other vices.”

    He added that leadership determines the direction of the society hence the need for our leaders to be nation builders as their decisions either make or mar the society they lead.

    “Society has produced good leaders without conviction, powerful leaders without morals or integrity. We have people who have led us without conscience. Leadership is about leaving footprint for the next generation,”Ebare added.

    Principal of the school, Mrs Yemisi Oloriade, said the programme was to enlighten the pupils on how good character can mould them to be better leaders.

    She said: “Character is something that you cannot see but you can feel its impact. A leader with morality and values is one with character.  Character helps somebody not to defile himself.”

    An SS2 Pupil of the school, Mary Akhimien said: “I have learnt to explore my feelings and thoughts. I have learnt how to use my weakness and temperament to my advantage.”

     

  • NDE empowers 430 after skills training in Niger

    NDE empowers 430 after skills training in Niger

    Four hundred and thirty persons, who received skills training have been empowered by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    NDE Acting Director-General, Mr. Kunle Obayan made this known at the resettlement of graduates of the Vocational Skills Development (VSD) programme in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    He said the disbursement was in line with the plan to create mass employment for unskilled and unemployed Nigerians by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    Obayan said the desire of the NDE had always been to empower beneficiaries of its skills training programmes. He, however, lamented that this had been limited by the funds available to the directorate each year.

    He advised unskilled and unemployed young Nigerians to take advantage of the various programmes of the NDE to exit joblessness, assuring that the directorate would not relent in its efforts to assist young Nigerians to access decent jobs.

    The Director-General, New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar, said the empowerment of over 400 persons across the nation by the NDE was a step towards addressing the developmental challenge the nation was facing.

    He called on the beneficiaries to use what was given to them judiciously and urged the youth to discover their potentials.

    Abubakar said the state government is encouraging youths to go into business ventures as government alone could not provide jobs for all the unemployed youths in the state. He said the state government would roll out its programme for youth empowerment soon.

    The beneficiaries were given equipment for welding, electrical engineering, beads making, shoe making, fridge repair works, among others

  • Fed Govt woos UAE on skills export

    Labour and Employment Minister Dr Chris Ngige, has urged United Arab Emirates (UAE) to activate the process of the migration of skilled Nigerian middle level workers into its country under the International Labour Migration guidelines.

    Ngige spoke in Abuja, when  UAE’s Ambassador to Nigeria,  Mahmood Mohammed Almahmood, visited him over on the death of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi.

    He  said: “In consonance with the spirit of the relationship, which exists between our two countries, and which President, Muhammadu Buhari has further bolstered with his recent official visit to the United Arab Emirates, and considering the series of agreements signed in the areas of trade, economic development, investment and industry as well as legal cooperation among others, my ministry wishes to  request that you activate the process of labour  migration and employment into the UAE  for skilled Nigerian  workers.”

    Dr. Ngige said it was Nigeria’s desire to export skilled middle level workers, whether they are carpenters, bricklayers, tillers, painters etc. “We want to export them officially under the International Labour Migration Organisation guidelines just like we are trying to do with Qatar,” he said.

    Nigeria, according to the minister, no doubt, has high skilled professionals such as engineers, medical doctors, nurses and others already  in the UAE, but wants to push people from the  middle cadre who have  blue collar skills.

    Amb. Mahmood Mohammed assured that the UAE would cooperate with Nigeria to promote trade and employment.

  • Skills for Abia rural dwellers

    Skills for Abia rural dwellers

    The wife of Abia State Governor Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu has lifted the spirits of grassroots dwellers in the state through her skill acquisition programme.

    The village of Umuobiakwa came alive when her convoy drove into the local primary school which is a stone’s throw from Mrs Ikpeazu’s country home. The villagers had been waiting for her. On the home call, she launched the skill acquisition programme.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Ikpeazu expressed his desire for a highly skilled and productive populace in Abia as one of the ways to ensure that the economy of the state sustained to stand the test of time.

    Ikpeazu said that when the people of the state are well trained in different skills by the by the different skill acquisition centers in different parts of the state that it as a sure way of guaranteeing genuine economic growth.

    The governor noted that when the people are imbued with skills of their choice that they will be too busy to remember embarking on violent crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery, stressing that with the scheme that crime rate will be reduced in the state.

    Ikpeazu said that skill acquisition is the back bone of economic growth, “When the people especially the youths in our society are equipped with different skills that will make them self sustaining the issue of crime will be a thing of the past”.

    Represented by the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Uche Ihediwa, Ikpeazu said the trainees will benefit from an export promotion programme that will enable their goods to be sold outside the country, and urged them to learn the skills adequately so their products would

    meet international standards.

    In her speech at the event, the Wife of the Governor Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu disclosed that 100 participants who are benefitting from the first phase of the programme will be given equipment and startup capital  to enable them become small scale entrepreneurs.

    Mrs. Ikpeazu described the program as a welcome development looking at the economic conditions of the country and revealed that her husband is sponsoring the program in Umuobiakwa as a way of bettering their lot.

    In her remarks the State coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment Lady Buchi Ojei urged the trainees to properly utilize the opportunity of becoming self-reliant.

    Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Mrs. Eberechukwu Nwaubani thanked Dr. Ikpeazu for giving them the opportunity of turning their lives around, adding that the programme will have a multiplier effect on the community.

    In their contributions a traditional ruler, Eze John Ikpeaba, and Chief Roland Njoku prayed that God will bless the family of the governor for attracting the programme and urged the beneficiaries to ensure the effort of the governor will not be in vain.

  • IDPs acquire skills

    IDPs acquire skills

    The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast has resulted in the death of thousands of people and displaced millions of them who became internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in their father land. They have been squatting in different parts of the country which they consider safe.

    They depend on favours from people in order to survive. Government at all levels, groups and well-meaning individuals have given them some support, mostly in form of relief materials. Some of them have also been trained in some skills in order to be self-sufficient.

    Recently, the TY Danjuma Foundation and All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF) Integrated Skills Acquisition for IDPs trained about 50 IDPs from Chibok who are at the Kpegi Village Camp Kuje Abuja for three months. They were trained in fishery, poultry farming, shoe making, bead and bag making and tailoring.

    The Executive Director of the TY Danjuma Foundation, Dr. Sunday Udoh explained that “the TY Danjuma Foundation is committed to changing the lives of the less-privileged people in the society. They include people who were displaced from their ancestral homes because of the violence in the Northeast.

    “The foundation is working hard to give back hope to the IDPs. The programme aimed to show them love, teach them skills and empower them; and after the process of learning, they are equipped with all the needed tools to continue with what they have been taught.

    “The foundation is ready to reach out to other places; we have the mandate to reach out to as many people as possible. We realised that simply brining foodstuffs to these people is not sustainable. It just amounts to taking care of their welfare and you are only giving them fish which they simply eat and are done with. Teaching them how to fish would mean empowering them for life so that they can teach others.”

    Twenty-Five-year-old mother of three, Monica David who learnt tailoring and bead making was proud to display her handiwork, saying that she was going to help her people with the new skills that she had learnt.

    She said: “I am really grateful to the foundation for teaching us these skills. To be honest, when peace returns to Chibok, I will like to return and establish myself. With this, I will be able to feed and pay my children’s school fees and generally take care of my family.”

    Another beneficiary, 29-year-old Andrew Bulus explained that he travelled to several places with his wife and four children before finally settling down at Kpegi village. Andrew said learning a skill now means that he will not have to beg to take care of his family in future but will be able to take care of them.

    He added: “I learnt a lot of things which included shoe making. I made the shoe that I’m wearing and because of this new skill, I am confident that wherever I go to, I will be able to take care of my family with what I learnt. The skill has given me the confidence and will to live again. Now, I do not mind where I find myself, because I am confident that I can use this to take care of my family anywhere.”

    The Coordinator ACCIF, Mrs. Ranti Daudu advised the beneficiaries to use the opportunity they have given to take care of themselves and be self-sufficient.

    She said: “Most people do not know it but these people are so hard-working and determined to learn. About five of them were delivered of their babies during the training but they were not deterred because the next day, they were behind their machines sewing.”

    Mrs Daudu called on the government and individuals to continue to support the IDPs and to patronise those that have learnt some form of trade to enable them to take care of themselves.