Indigent women in the society have been urged to follow their passion and create employments from skills they are comfortable with.
The charge was given by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Lola Akande, at the one day skills and empowerment training, organised by Dip Fabrics Limited in conjunction with Nectar Business Group, for grassroots women in Bariga. The event took place at the Oba of Bariga palace, on Saturday.
According to her, if this is done, women, most of who, are vulnerable especially during economic downturn would be able to stay afloat and be able to assist their husbands in taking care of the family.
Mrs Akande, who was represented by the Director of Women Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation in the Ministry Mrs Folake Oluyemi, said the government is ready to partner with any woman who is trainable, adding that the ministry has 24 skill acquisition centres where interested women can be trained while those who are willing could take certificates obtained from such centres to any of the technical colleges in the state for more trainings.
She said now that the era of white collar jobs seems to be over, it is now fashionable to see well educated women jostling to acquire skills with which they can create jobs and make more money.
She praised Dip Fabrics for the innovation assuring that the ministry would continue to partner with the organization for the purpose of making life more abundant for women and the downtrodden.
Earlier, Dip Fabrics Executive Director Mrs Sandra Chiadi-Ukoh said she was motivated to set up an empowerment and skill training in order to improve the lots of women and the indigents.
She said the effort which was her main edition would hold every quarter in order to ensure that the indigents, especially women would be taken away from the jaws of poverty.
She commended the state government for coming up with empowerment and skill acquisition centres across the five divisions of the state in order to make it accessible to all those willing to acquire more training to be job creators.
The Coordinator of Nectar Business Group Mr Biodun Ogunsola said the training would expose beneficiaries to opportunities to create new jobs and learn new skills with which they could live comfortable lives.
“The occasion is also being used to generate data on those who are already skilled and trained in order to know how they could be better assisted in order to enable them live a fulfilled life.”
He said Dip Fabrics and Nectar would ensure that poverty is wrestled to the ground in Bariga and environs.
Some of the beneficiaries praised the organisers for coming up with the initiative which they described as novel in Bariga. “We are extremely happy for this training and I personally have learnt so much from this training, which has opened my eyes to so many businesses that one can venture into with almost zero capital, even in the confines of one’s home,” said Mrs Evelyn Oladele, an online supplements entrepreneur.
“Even though the kind of business I wish to embark upon (which is training), is not included in the module of training, I must admit that I learnt a lot about value chain opportunities in agro-allied businesses and the export opportunities that are inexhaustible in the so many sectors of the economy in the country,” Daniel Olonade, a jobless University graduate also disclosed.
Several beneficiaries said they would forever remain grateful for the training which has gone a long way to radically change their perception about money making and the need for everyone to key into creating start up businesses rather than waiting for salaried work.
About 200 women, and youth from Bariga and adjoining communities attended the training.