Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon Andrew Emwanta. has advised beneficiaries of the European Union, EU Agent for Citizens -driven Transformation (ACT) programme for young women in Edo State to use the starter packs presented to them to improve their livelihood and train others in their trade.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Youth, Mr. Asiriuwa Victor, JP, during the presentation of certificates and starter packs to the trainees by Christabel Otueroro Foundation (COF) in Benin City, commended the ACT programme for training and empowering the women.
“The problem we have in Africa is that people are trained and not empowered, but today you have been trained and empowered, therefore your future is bright. Start from a little beginning and your future will end up bright,” he said.
According to him, “people need to be encouraged and empowered to learn a trade by starting small and God will bless them. That is why we are commending the ACT programme for the funding of this initiative and we want you to also train others.
In their good will messages, the invited guests present, including Mrs. Enoma Patience who represented a former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Florence Gbinigie, said this is a great opportunity given to women and they appealed to the women not to sell the starter packs given to them.
“Everybody needs skills irrespective of the course of study. You do not need to depend on doing one thing, get busy and God will bless you.There is a lot of competition, that is why you have to be at your best in what you are doing. Use this opportunity well to ensure that others also benefit,” they advised.
The Executive Director, Christabel Otueroro Foundation, (COF) Onome Otueroro disclosed that all the fifty young women received starter packs which include industrial ovens, mixers, sewing machines, hair dryers and make-up kits and ring lights to start up their businesses after their training.
“We thank God that with support from EU-ACT and the British Council, our NGO has successfully trained 50 young women who are graduating today. The ACT is a four year EU programme funded by the European Union and being implemented by the British Council, Nigeria.
“The programme is linked to the reform objectives of the three EU focal sectors of the 11th National Indicative programme. The ACT programme is therefore funding a consortium of four partners, Idia Renaissance, Christabel Otueroro Foundation, Society for Awareness and Family Initiative and Smiles African International Youth Development Initiative.
“Over 1,000 women have been sensitized across 20 communities and 200 girls have undergone various skills empowerment trainings in tailoring, catering, makeup/cosmetology and hair dressing. The consortium partners have also concluded jingles and phone-in programmes which the Ministry was part of in four radio stations which ran for four months where the public were being directed to the appropriate government MDA’s as referral points” he added.
