By Grace Abe

The Inner Wheel District 910, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has commenced the construction of a skills acquisition centre in Karshi, Abuja, to boost the economic empowerment of women and girls.

The District Chairman, Dr Tola Adeseun, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja, during the foundation laying ceremony of the proposed facility.

Adeseun said the project was designed to equip women, girls, and youths in the host community with vocational skills to make them self-reliant and productive contributors to the economy.

She explained that Inner Wheel is a charity and service-oriented international organisation that has existed for over 100 years, focusing primarily on the welfare and advancement of women and girls.

According to her, District 910 covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa and neighbouring states, with a core mandate to groom women and girls into responsible members of society.

“Empowering women and girls with the necessary vocational skills is vital to boosting our economy,” she said.

Adeseun expressed concern over the rising rate of unemployment among young people, noting that many university graduates remained jobless and vulnerable to social vices.

“A lot of young people, even graduates, are jobless and roaming the streets, which can push them into becoming nuisances or criminals. We want to reduce that in our own little way,” she added.

She revealed that the new centre would feature five dedicated classrooms for training in tailoring, hairdressing, baking, cooking and information technology, including a fully equipped computer laboratory.

The district chairman appealed to the Federal Government, corporate bodies and well-meaning groups to partner with the NGO to ensure the smooth completion and operation of the facility.

“We cannot handle this alone. For instance, the Minister of Power can assist us in solarising the centre or ensuring steady electricity, because computers and machines cannot function without power,” Adeseun said.

She urged youths to take vocational training seriously rather than relying solely on white-collar government jobs, stressing that skilled artisans often earn more than degree and diploma holders.

Earlier, the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, who delivered the keynote address, described the project as a timely intervention that would enable residents to acquire new skills or upgrade existing ones.

Madein noted that vocational competence enhances employability and creates sustainable avenues for financial independence.

“When you learn a skill, making economic gains becomes easier, and women, who are often at the far end of the economic spectrum, can meaningfully support their families,” she said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Project Committee, Mrs Adenike Bamisayo, disclosed that the facility would include a 150-seater hall and five training classrooms.

Bamisayo described the construction of the centre as a “game changer” that would positively transform the livelihoods of Karshi residents, particularly women and girls.

In his remarks, a media personality with the Africa Independent Television (AIT), Mr Oloyede Oworu, commended the organisation for initiating the project, noting that government alone could not address all developmental needs.

Oworu stated that community-based vocational initiatives help unlock hidden talents and foster financial independence among citizens.

Responding, the District Head of Karshi, Mr Elijah Medoka, thanked the organisation for siting the project in his domain.

Medoka said the centre would significantly curb youth restiveness and redundancy in the community.

He assured the donors that the community would take full ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance upon completion.

The traditional ruler, however, appealed to the management of the centre to engage qualified and experienced instructors to guarantee impactful training for the beneficiaries. (NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai