By Chuks Nweze, Enugu
A Non-Governmental organisation, NGO, Upswing for Better Life Initiative, an offshoot of a New York State, a non profit corporation, “Better Life Initiative Inc, has trained and empowered 31 indigenes of Egede, Udi local government area of Enugu State with cash and equipment worth over N500,000.
The training was for both old and young who were willing to under the seven month tuition-free training on Skin Care products making, Shoe making and Catering.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 31 graduands made up 14 for Skin Care products; 10 for pasteries, bread and cake making and 7 for Shoe making, at Egede on Thursday, the Director of Upswing for Better Life Initiative, Barr. Bibian Obiageli Agada, disclosed that they started the training with 41 but others dropped on the way leaving only 31.
“This journey started on February 3, 2022, when we selected 41 people for the training programme in Skin Care products, pasteries and shoe making. The training did not start until the 18th of February as we had to renovate the building granted us for use free of charge by the Late Mr. Ben Ekwueme,” she disclosed.
According to Agada, in spite of some challenges, the training went on and has produced people who can now be their own bosses having undergone the training.
She said that in addition to giving the graduands certificates, they would be give equipment and cash with which to start up their own business which in the long run would make them to train others in due course.
“Upswing for Better Life Initiative will therefore strengthen their empowerment by giving interest free loan in materials and cash, to the 25 that applied for loan. Each of the Shoe makers will get a sewing machine and filling machine. Each of the 10 of the skin care products will receive a table cutter, 25 litre of palm kernel oil and 12.5kg of caustic soda.
“A skin care producers will receive interested in producing black soap, will receive a mortar, pestle and necessaries for the said production. 6 budding bakers will get an oven and a gas cylinder each. All the 25 enterprenuers have received additional N30,000 each, which had already been transferred to their respective accounts,” she disclosed.
A guest speaker at the occasion, Mr. Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa, CEO, Queens Model Group of Schools, Enugu, expressed deep appreciation for the Director, Barr. Agada, saying that she is doing what most politicians would not do for the constituents.
Okenwa said that skill acquisition is very vital to the society because it makes people to be busy and productive saying that “a lazy mind is a devil’s workshop,” hence the need that people acquire skills to be self-reliant.
He especially expressed delight that after training the indigenes, they are still given start up for enterprenuers.
Okenwa urged the graduands to good use of the equipment they were given for it’s multiplier effect which is not only to be busy but be employers of labour.
“Don’t underrate small beginning. Make good use of the equipment you were given to grow in life,” he charged urging them that for no reason should they missuse or sell the equipment which is their capital for growth.
Okenwa noted that by giving them equipment and cash, they have thus been ‘given hooks to fish instead of being given fish.’
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of certificates and the equipment to the graduands.
More photos from the event:
