By Bridget Ikyado
Abuja – The Justice, Peace and Development Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has distributed startup kits to 72 youths it trained in four skills, to start their own businesses.
The JDPC Chairman, Josephat Abaagu, presented the materials on Friday in Abuja at the end of the six-week training.
He said that the Youth Entrepreneurship Development and Empowerment Scheme was initiated by the Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace Ignatius Kiagama.
According to him, the goal is to strength the skills and financial security of vulnerable youth in the archdiocese.
The beneficiaries were trained in Catering and Event Planning, Fashion Design, Digital Photography and Video Editing, and Graphics.
Abaagu said that the vocational and entrepreneurship skills training was to take away the youths from negative behaviours.
“During the six weeks training, the youths were also trained on entrepreneurship skills that would enhance their ability to step-up, manage and build their businesses through the start up kits that was provided for them, he said.
He said that the commission had set up a quality control system that ardently supervised the training and also conducted surveys to further improve the training process.
Abaagu disclosed that 200 youths would be trained in 2023 in Interior design, catering, poultry and fish farming, leather works, Web and App development, and fashion design.
“We will continue to be unrelenting in our efforts to improve the lives of our youths and the development of our dear nation,” he added.
The chairman thanked the Archbishop for his passion on youth empowerment, and the Catholic Relief Service for funding the training programme.
He cautioned the beneficiaries against selling the startup kits, but use them to earn decent living.
Mr Joseph Sanwo, Senior Project Officer, FIIAPP/ATIPSOM Nigeria, said youth empowerment would help eliminate issues of trafficking in persons ad other negative vices.
He advised the beneficiaries to teach and train others to also become self reliant.
Mr Anselm Nwoke, Coordinator Partnership and Capacity Strengthening, Catholic Relief Service, said the beneficiaries should “at least six months from now, be on ground, working and yielding results”.
Rev. Fr. Moses Uko, Executive Director JPDC, said government alone would not be able to provide jobs to all, as such it was necessary for individuals and organisations to empower young people.
Mr Ifunanya Okolo, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, said they would make the best use of the items to improve themselves and impact positively on the nation. (NAN/vitalnewsngr.com)
