Niger Delta
Foundation Empowers 550 Youths In A’Ibom
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Eket Community Development Foundation in Akwa Ibom, said it had empowered 550 youths in the area on skill acquisition programme from 2009 to March, 2013.
The organisation said it also executed mini-water projects in four communities in the area within the period.
The foundation’s Skill Acquisition Facilitator, Mr Eshiet Ekanem, made this known in an interview in Eket, Akwa Ibom, on Sunday.
Ekanem said the beneficiaries were trained in telephone repairs, computer maintenance, fashion designs, electrical installation, welding fabrication, automobile repairs, aluminum fabrication, catering and hotel management.
He said the objective for the training was to support the government in reducing unemployment which was identified as a major factor responsible for the increasing rate of social vices among youths.
According to him, the programme will make them to be gainfully employed or set up their businesses, thereby creating more employment and making income available in many homes.
“This will also contribute to the economic development of Eket Local Government Area and the state and help in reducing youths’ restiveness,” he said.
Ekanem also said that some civil servants in the area had also benefited from training organised by the NGO to enhance their productivity and added that the foundation was also intervening in education sector in the area.
According to him, our organisation has continued to impact positively on the lives Eket people with regards to skills development and provision of potable water.
He said that the water projects were sited in Idung Udo, Ebana, Osiok and Idung Offiong communities.
“We are also working on modalities for expanding the skills acquisition programme and we are already consulting with youths and women in the various communities to ascertain their interests and needs,” he said.
He added that following the consultation with youths and women, industrial safety, furniture making, hair dressing, hats and beads making had been included in the programme.