By Catherine Egwuom
The Centre for the Advancement and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable People (CAPRIGHTS-VP) has mentored vulnerable families in Alimosho to strengthen livelihoods and prevent exploitative child domestic work.
The organisation held a one-day Livelihood Mentoring and Monitoring Programme on June 25 at the Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area in Lagos, according to a statement issued by the NGO.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme brought together beneficiaries of CAPRIGHTS-VP’s five-day free skills acquisition programme and trainees of the Ikotun-Igando Local Government Vocational Training Centre.
The training was held in collaboration with the Local Government Education Department and provided business coaching, entrepreneurship development, digital marketing, peer learning and strategic mentorship.
CAPRIGHTS-VP said the intervention was designed to ensure that vulnerable families received continuous mentorship, technical guidance and business support after acquiring vocational skills.
It said the support would help beneficiaries establish sustainable enterprises, improve household incomes and build resilience against poverty and unemployment.
The organisation said poverty, unemployment and limited livelihood opportunities remained major drivers of exploitative child domestic work in vulnerable communities.
It said strengthening the economic resilience of parents, caregivers and households would reduce children’s vulnerability to exploitation and promote protective family environments.
The programme commenced with registration, networking, welcome remarks and an overview of its objectives.
Participants were encouraged to apply knowledge gained during their skills acquisition training and embrace entrepreneurship for financial independence, family stability and long-term economic resilience.
Representatives of the local government’s Education Department attended the programme, reflecting the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in sustainable community development.
They included Mr Bada Femi, Head of the Education Department; Mr Ogunlokun James and Mr Ojo Adekunle.
The officials reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower vulnerable families through education, skills development and economic inclusion.
In her welcome remarks, Mrs Agatha Chinedu, Project Lead at Center for the Advancement of the Rights Of Vulnerable People (CAPRIGHTS VP), urged participants to maximise the mentoring opportunity and build viable businesses capable of transforming their families’ lives.
Ms Mercy Joshua introduced the programme and said CAPRIGHTS-VP’s livelihood intervention extended beyond vocational training to continuous mentoring, monitoring and business development support.
The organisation’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer, Mrs Vivian Emesowum, delivered a presentation on exploitative child domestic work.
Emesowum explained the relationship between household economic hardship and child exploitation, stressing that stronger family livelihoods were effective in protecting children’s rights.
She said improving household incomes could help prevent exploitative child domestic work and create safe, nurturing and protective environments for children.
Mrs Olufunmilola Coker, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, facilitated an entrepreneurship masterclass on business growth.
Coker spoke on the theme, “Starting Smart: Tools for Successful Entrepreneurship and Business Growth.”
She taught participants business planning, financial management, pricing strategies, customer retention, record keeping, business registration and enterprise sustainability.
Coker also introduced the SMART goal-setting principle, encouraging beneficiaries to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound business goals.
She said SMART goals would help entrepreneurs remain focused, monitor progress, make informed decisions and overcome challenges in starting and growing businesses.
Coker urged participants to cultivate discipline, resilience, innovation and consistency while transforming their vocational skills into profitable and sustainable enterprises.
Mr Tosin Oni facilitated a session on “Leveraging Digital Marketing for Business Growth” to prepare participants for the digital economy.
Oni introduced practical strategies for using social media and digital platforms to promote products, improve visibility, attract customers and expand market opportunities.
He also taught participants how to create compelling content and build an online presence capable of driving business growth with minimal financial investment.
CAPRIGHTS-VP Communication Officer, Chinecherem Ugwueze, facilitated a practical session on product photography using mobile phones.
Participants learned techniques on lighting, composition, background selection, image angles, branding and visual storytelling to improve product presentation and customer engagement.
The programme featured breakout mentoring sessions, where beneficiaries discussed business challenges, received personalised guidance and exchanged experiences with facilitators and peers.
The sessions reinforced the importance of continuous learning, networking, accountability and peer support in building sustainable enterprises.
During the testimonial session, Ms Chinonso Balogun, who specialised in gele tying and makeup artistry, said the training renewed her confidence and inspired business growth.
Balogun said the intervention equipped her with practical skills and opened new pathways toward financial independence through her beauty business.
Ms Bolanle Oyedepo, who specialised in bag making, described the intervention as life-changing and said it empowered her to produce quality handmade bags.
Oyedepo said she was building a sustainable enterprise capable of supporting her household and improving her family’s standard of living.
Other beneficiaries, including Judith Samuel and Blessing, appreciated CAPRIGHTS-VP for continuous mentorship, business coaching and technical guidance.
They said the organisation’s follow-up and encouragement strengthened their confidence and motivated them to pursue long-term business success.
The programme concluded with a strategic planning session facilitated by Joshua, during which beneficiaries developed practical business growth plans.
Participants were encouraged to set measurable goals, maintain accurate financial records, continue networking and maximise mentoring opportunities provided by the organisation.
In her closing remarks, Chinedu commended beneficiaries for their dedication throughout the skills acquisition training and mentoring programme.
She reaffirmed CAPRIGHTS-VP’s commitment to supporting vulnerable families beyond vocational training through regular monitoring, advisory services, refresher training and capacity-building engagements.
The organisation said its long-term approach would help it monitor progress, address emerging business challenges and maximise sustainable outcomes for participating families.
According to the statement, empowering vulnerable families required continuous mentoring, strategic partnerships and sustained investment in people’s potential.
It added that the initiative would reduce risk factors associated with exploitative child domestic work and contribute to safer, stronger and prosperous communities.
The organisation called for collaboration with government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and philanthropic supporters.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu