Save Our Souls (SOS) Children’s Villages Nigeria on Saturday empowered 56 youths in Usen community of Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo with various start-off kits after being trained on various requisite skills.
Out of the 56 youths trained and empowered , 26 were females and 30 males.
The start-off kits distributed included 2.5 KVA generator sets for all the beneficiaries, 2000w Aluminium jossy cutting machine, tools box kit sets with 13mm electric drill machines and Iron fabric cutting machines for Aluminium fabrication business type.
Others are local Oven, Century Cake Mixer, Chef 4-in-1 Blender, Juicy Extractor, Ginder with mill baking pan for Baking and catering business type, Butterfly overlook weaving and Sewing Machines for those in fashion business type.
Also Taraulin (12 feet by 15feet), Harvanized pipe (complete), 20 bags fish feed , 1000 fishes ( fingerlin) for fish farming business type, standing hair dryers, washing basins, hand dryers, ventilator needles, Nail drying lamp, makeup boxes with secured lock, mannequin dummy baby heads with clamp for wigs making for Hair stylist business type. and Laptops, Printers, Ideapads, for ICT business type.
Mr Eghosa Erhumwunse, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, said `At last, lasting solution to poverty and unemployment lies in an African proverb/Adage that admonishes on “teaching people how to fish as against giving them fish to eat”.
Erhumwunse, explained that the project was implemented in the state in partnership with the Edo State Skills Development Agency (Edo jobs), GIZ- and Skills for youth Employment (SKYE)
” Today’s ceremony is just to mark a stage in our project implementation. The beneficiaries have been trained on the required skills to be able to lead in whatever vocation they have chosen.
“Our expectation is for them to remain focused, courageous, more committed and to be accountable.
“The journey is for them, and its own by them. They should seize this opportunity to show to the world that young people are those who can really change the tide of things economically,” he said.
The national director said that the opportunity had multiplying effects, so they should be able to train other young persons around them and grow their businesses for the benefit of their families and the nation.
“As it stands, it’s all about survival. Therefore, the future belongs to the young people as these beneficiaries are ready to contribute to the growth and development not only Usen community but Edo state and Nigeria as a whole.
“This is why SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria facilitates the short-term, non-formal technical and soft skills training for young people.
“Through the project, we have targeted and reached 500 vulnerable persons between the ages of 15 and 35 in the three senatorial districts in Edo with focus on rural areas of the state, ” he said.
Responding, His Royal Highness, Oluogbede II, the Olawole of Usen kingdom, commended the foundation, the project and those that made it possible.
The traditional ruler, represented by Chief Joseph Ighobadia-Esau, the Esau of Usen kingdom, said he was looking forward to more projects that would benefit the community.
He expressed happiness over the project and promised to give the SOS the needed cooperation and support when necessary.
On their parts, Mr Nosagie Uyi-Eribo and Miss Faith Obasoyen, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria for the kind gesture and promised to use the opportunity offered them for the benefit of the entire community.
