Livelihood
Not less than 50 students graduated on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 from the Skill acquisition and empowerment programmes training organised by the Economic Empowerment committee of Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society, NAṢFAT Ikeja, Lagos. Twenty outstanding among the graduands were gifted Starter’s Pack to kick start the skills they’ve acquired.
The graduands who have been in the training exercise for about six months got trained in waste recycling, usage of used automobile tyres, empty bottle water etc to make such items as seats, sitting room centre tables, side stools to mention but a few.
This was disclosed by the Chairperson for Skill acquisition Committee, Alhaja Baderinwa who also represented the National Economic Empowerment Secretary, Alhaja Fauziyah Adegeye at the just concluded graduation ceremony organised to celebrate the society’s National Annual Women’s Week, the 24th edition.
“We’ve always been organising such empowerment training as this because the thrust policy of our society, HELD (Health Education Livelihood and Dawah), it’s all encompassing. This particular one is just done at this period of our 24th women’s week to celebrate the week through empowerment.”
“Indeed I’m elated for the smooth and success of the event; In the same vein, the graduands were trained in traditional adire making with guinea brocade and T-Shirt materials. Bag making that can be used as souvenirs for different social events, shopping and travel bags of various sizes, shapes and designs including Insecticides, pesticides and liquid soaps.”
Mr. AbdulAkeem Olaniyi, one of the Facilitators at the occasion, spoke extensively on the significance and usefulness of acquiring knowledge in vocational skills; And the economic viability of skill acquisition especially in the present day economy across board.
“Gone are the days where everyone is looking for white collar jobs, it’s not even readily available hence, acquiring skills/vocational knowledge is the saviour to unemployment, if the Youth are seriously serious with their dreams, because if you get the appropriate knowledge, training and mentorship, you will go places, especially with good packaging of your products/services, then you will be able to make ends meet, if you’re not a covetous person and you’re seriously serious with your business.”
In his own presentation, Engr. Abdulfatai Bakare enlightened the graduands on business techniques and strategies that can be embraced in order to excel and succeed in their different chosen skills.
“Try to register your business, branding of your business is very important, don’t see today as the final or optimum stage, rather this is just the starting point, so you need to improve on the knowledge, skill and empowerment that have been provided for you as you’re going into the labour market, business environment to put into practice what you’ve acquired or learnt. And never be extravagant, be prudent”.
The Co-ordinator 2 for the 24th Women’s Week from NAṢFAT Osun Zone, also lend her voice by advising the graduands to be prudent and never be driven by social or family influence, “this will help you succeed and boost your business, don’t follow the crowd and don’t try to feel among any trend when you know you have a target and dream to achieve”.
The society’s National Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Suwebah Bola Kupolati led the guests, participants to the exhibition stand where all the products made by the graduands were showcased while each department head explained the process of the production.
Observations were made and pieces of advice given during the interactive session at the exhibition stand on improving the products so that they can compete with their production counterparts in the market space.