NGO empowers widows, youths with skills, grants in Lagos
By Mateen Badru
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Triumphant Foundation, on Sunday in Lagos empowered 100 people with new skills and supported them with grants.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries included women, widows and youths, who were trained in tie and dye, making of pastries, soap, air fresheners and cement.
The participants were part of a three-day skills acquisition programme organised by the NGO.
The Founder, Mr Patrick Tinka, commended the turnout of participants and said there was hope for the future of the country, seeing that people were still interested in personal development.
He urged the participants to take advantage of the skills they had acquired as it was a rare opportunity that should be cherished.
“In the past, we had embarked on skills acquisition but never had we made it this elaborate by delving into empowerment.
“The reason for this is because in the last five to six months, a lot of transformational events occurred in the country.
“Events like the Naira redesign, cash crunch and fuel hike, among others, of which widows and orphans were mostly affected.
“Who cared for them, who checked up on them, who saw the need to alleviate their sufferings? These are the questions that come to mind.
“If they are empowered, if they are given an opportunity to fend for themselves and their immediate families, life would be easier, crimes will reduce tremendously and poverty will be at its barest minimum.
“Nigeria is blessed with rich resources and our human capital is one of them, that is why you are here today,” he said.
He urged the participants to take the trainings very seriously and remain focused on the goals and the reasons for the training.
Tinka said the training was free but charged the participants to approach it as though it was being paid for.
He advised the participants never to look down on themselves but to only forge ahead as this was the only way they could achieve their goals.
“Never think that you are not enough to be self reliant or to be great in life, push and you will win.
“I hope and pray that this will be the beginning of greater things to come,” he said.
A participant, Mrs Grace Taiwo, a widow, expressed appreciation for having the opportunity to take part in the skills acquisition programme.
She commended the organisers and prayed for continuity to enable other people benefit from the initiative.
Another participant, Onaolapo Oladoja, said it was a special day for him, having been opportuned to participate in the peogramme as a form of enlightenment.
“This has enlightened me in some aspects of life and opened the eyes of many youths like me to see that there is need for hard work.
“There is also need for creativity and the need to do something great, especially with our talents, to make our country better,” he said.
He further commended the organisers for a job well done, adding that he was overwhelmed with the love and hospitality shown by the organisers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 participants who showed more commitment and passion, were given a token of N10,000 as start-up capital.
Meanwhile, mechanisms were put in place to monitor and ensure that the monetary assistance was channeled to the purpose for which it was given. (NAN)
Edited by Wandoo Sombo/Idris Abdulrahman
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