About 48 women in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State have been trained on various skills by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), Joint Ventures in order to reduce the economic and financial burden of women in the state.

The women, who benefited from the training, were also given starter packs by Mobil.

Delivering the starter packs to the beneficiaries on completion of one month training on skill acquisition, the Executive Director of Mobil, who was represented by the manager, Public and Government Affairs, Bonny River Terminal (BRT), Mr Akaninyere Esiere said apart from the 40 women trained on various skills, 50 women were also trained recently in skills acquisition programmes in Bonny LGA.

According to him, the starter packs include, 32 sewing machines, 37 generators, and two computers units.

Others are two printers, three hair dryers and accessories, 11 oven gas cookers, and baking accessories, as well as fabrics and tie/dye materials.

While stating the various skill  acquisition programmes embarked upon by the participants, Mr Esiere said the women were trained on catering and bakery, tie/dye, computer studies, hair making, hat making, bead work and fashion designing.

He stated that these trainings will go a long way in tackling poverty in the state.

“the project is designed primarily to empower women through entrepreneurial development and promotion of Information Communication Technology skills among women.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed appreciation over the skills acquired by them and promised to use the equipment effectively in order to achieve the desired goals of the project. 

Sogbeba Dokubo