Foundation trains 100 youths, women on skill acquisition in Akwa Ibom

Wife of the AKS Governor Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel leading  women of the State in dancing at a thanksgiving service to dedicate the new  state administration to God

Eket Community Development Foundation (ECDF), in Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom said it had trained 100 youths and women on Skill Acquisition Programme (SAP), to be self reliant since inception.

The Administrative Officer of the foundation, Mr Josiah Thompson disclosed this in an interview with the newsmen in Eket, Akwa Ibom.

He said the beneficiaries were trained on various skills to include: Auto-mechanic, Fashion and Designing, Aluminium fabrication, Electrical installations, Sand blasting/thermal, Hat and Beats, Welding and fabrication.
“SAP was launched on 22nd April 2009. From inception till date, a total of 100 youths and women had benefited from skill acquisition programme in the state,’’ he said.

Thompson added that 30 women had been trained on soft skills such as body spray, soap making, paint, wine, dettol, cream to be self dependent.
He further said the foundation had donated six sewing machines and six weaving machines to beneficiaries of Fashion and Designing in Eket.
Thompson said that 15 youths and women were undergoing training on vocational skills in the area.

 He said that ECDF is a community based and non-profitable making organization.
Thompson said the foundation had facilitated sustainable development and reduces poverty in Eket communities through a Participatory Bottom-up Approach (PAN).

Thompson said the foundation had carried out educational intervention in communities in Eket.

Meanwhile, he said the foundation had donated five water projects in its host communities since inception. He said the beneficiary communities of the water projects include Idung Udo, Osiok, Idim Afia, Ebana and Idung Offiong water projects.

“During the process of executing the projects, we train those local communities on artisan skills and those who will manage projects for sustainability,’’ Thompson said.
He noted that about 10,000 people had benefited from the water projects in the area.

He said that the foundation had trained communities to manage and guard the water projects against vandalism.  “The foundation have train the local communities on how to manage the water projects for durability and sustainability,’’ he said.

Thompson said that duration of training was between six months to three years depending on the vocation skill.
He noted that stipends were given to the beneficiaries to aid their transportation.

He said the foundation monitors trainees to ensure regular attendance in the institute.
“We encourage them to come to training every day because at the end of the day if some graduates, they will be gainfully employed,’’ he said.

Thompson said that the ECDF was funded by Frontier Oil Limited (FOL), an indigenous oil company and facilitated by Pro-Natural International.
He called on Stakeholders, spirited individuals, Multinational oil firms, NGOs to support the foundation to achieve its objectives.