From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The over sixty women and youths of Mbaogu kingdom in Oji River local government area of Enugu state, who participated in the recent concluded vocational and entrepreneurial training brought to their door step have expressed satisfaction with the categories of skills they learnt from it, assuring they will capitalise on the skills to fend for themselves.
The 5-day training which took place at ‘Ujiri market square’ Mbaogu kingdom from Monday June 24 to Friday,June 28 was conducted by ‘The Potters Wheel Foundation’,a Non Governmental Organisation(NGO) with keen interest in training unemployed women and youth to acquire skills that will enable to be self employed,at the long run employers of labour.
In partnership with the Enugu state government through the state ministry of Youth and Sports, the Potters Wheel Foundation favoured Mbaogu kingdom at it’s first outreach training to rural communities in Enugu state courtesy of a concerned citizen, Mr Ephraim Chukwubuikem Oluedo.
The participants were taught on how to manufacture different types of house hold commodities and edibles from which they can earn a living.
They were groomed on how to manufacture over twenty house hold needs which includes laundry soap, hair cream,perfume,liquid soap,car wash detergents,hair shampo, bleach, disinfectants,antiseptics, among others.
The edibles include custard, chin chin,vpeanut and hibiscus wine (zobo drink).
On the 5th day which also marked the end of the training, the participants entertained guests with some edibles like chin chin, buns and zobo drinx which they manufactured with raw materials sourced from the local market while other products were displayed.
A community leader, Ozo Agozie Ahanonu, who stood in for His Royal Highness, Igwe Godwin Madu, the Vice Chairman,Enugu state traditional council and traditional ruler of Mbaogu kingdom, urged the trainees to utilise the opportunity to establish themselves. assuring they will get maximum support from the community to excell in the trade.The President General of Mbaogu Kingdom, Mr Romanus Udoji Chukwu,who was full of accolades for the trainees also spoke in the same vein.
In a brief lecture to mark the closing ceremony, Mr Victor Orjiekwe, described skill acquisition and vocational trade as the best weapons to fight poverty in every community. He advised the trainees to start off business immediately even with a little sum of money,expressed optimism they will eventually grow.
The initiator/convener of the training,Mr Ephraim Oluedo, urged the trainees they will get financial support to grow into micro enterprises from concerned citizens, if they team up as cooperative societies.
