From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
A non-governmental organisation, the Potters Wheel Foundation, has embarked on outreach training of voluntered rural women and youths in Mbaogu Kingdom, Achi, Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The Foundation, engaged by the Enugu state government through the state’s ministry of youths and sports, is carrying out the training programme in collaboration with a concerned citizen of Mbaogu Kingdom, Mr. Oluedo Ephraim Chukwubuikem.
Several women and youths of the community are currently engaged in an intensive five-day skill acquisition training on baking and confectionery, manufacturing of skin care products, hygienic products, allied products, natural beverages, social media marketing, among others.
The training, which is ongoing at ‘Afor Ujiri’ market square in Mbaogu Kingdom, was declared open on Monday, June 24, by Enugu state commissioner for youth and sports, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu.
Barr. Ekweremadu, who was represented by the Head of Administration of Youth and Sports Ministry, Mrs. Celestina Egesi, extolled the vision of Governor Peter Mbah and her boss, Barr. Ekweremadu, in galvanizing Enugu youths and women to embrace skills as a means of creating employment for themselves at these critical moments when white collar jobs are not easy to come by.
She explained that the training is for both graduates and non-graduates, assuring that with commitment, the trainees can learn and acquire skills in their preferred area of specialisation that can have a positive impact on their lives and families henceforth.
She urged the trainees to further exchange contacts with their trainers at the end of the exercise to enable them to make clarifications when it matters.
Mrs. Egesi poured encomiun on Mr. Oluedo Ephraim for luring the skill acquisition training to his community, stating it is not an easy task amidst several other communities that made such a request.
Some staff of the Potters Wheel Foundation, who spoke at the opening ceremony, promised they would do their very best to take on volunteers who showed commitment within the training days and even thereafter.
One of the instructors, Emeruwa Nkiruka, explained that the training will take two sessions over four days.
According to her, the morning session will start at ten o’clock in the morning and end at one o’clock in the afternoon (10 a.m.–1 p.m.), while the afternoon session commences from 2pm to 4pm.
Also speaking, the facilitator/convener, Mr. Oluedo Ephraim Chukwubuikem, said the skill acquisition training for the rural areas was borne out of his passion to let jobless youths and women in the Mbaogu Kingdom acquire skills that will enable them to be productive and self-reliant instead of depending on others all the time.
He said that the instructors and trainers have up to 25 packages to train them if only they show commitment.
Oluedo revealed that only those who persevered and thoroughly participated in the training sessions would be issued certificates of participation thereafter.
He promised that some of the trainees with like minds who will work as a team at the end of the training, will be assisted in securing funds from concerned citizens to grow as a microenterprise.
Mr. Oluedo expressed gratitude to the state commissioner for youth and sports, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, and members of the staff of the ministry for attending to his request.
He also gave kudos to the Chief Executive Officer of the Potters Wheel Foundation, Godwin Onuzuluike, for approving the outreach programme to the Mbaogu kingdom, Achi, and Oji River local government area.
Some of the trainees expressed gratitude to Mr Oluedo for giving them the opportunity to learn a trade from home, and assuring that they will utilise the opportunity to learn new skills that would have a meaningful impact on their lives.