On Wednesday, the Defense and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) graduated 102 barracks youths from its Skills Acquisition Center as part of its empowerment programmes for the vulnerable in society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association graduated three batches of trainees nominated by the various officer-wives associations under defense.
The trainees were taught various aspects of skills such as catering services, fashion designing, hair making/gele tying, bag making, computer appreciation, barbing, and household item production.
The President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Oghogho Musa, said the graduation was an affirmation of DEPOWA’s well-known passion and commitment towards empowering women, youths, and other vulnerable members of the barracks and beyond.
Musa said it was in line with her vision of “Seeing Women and Girls Become Productive and Contributors to Family and Society Driven by Deep Sense of Values and Hard-working Spirit.”.
She said the trainees were inaugurated on October 9, 2023, with 106 beneficiaries, comprising 84 women and 22 men.
According to her, each participant’s training was fully funded by DEPOWA, and all of them were provided with essential basic training materials and placed on monthly stipends of N10,000 to cater to their logistics and personal needs.
“It is also noteworthy that, despite the limited funds at our disposal, we had to undertake a thorough renovation of the center and provide it with new equipment to ensure a conducive learning environment before the commencement of the training.
“This was necessary because all the departments of the Center were in a deplorable state with obsolete facilities.
“Permit me to further inform you that Batches 14, 15, and 16 of 2023 trainees who are graduating today were nominated from the various sister associations under DEPOWA.
“Considerations were, however, given to wives of fallen heroes and vulnerable youths within and outside the barrack community.
“They were exposed to intensive training based on the reviewed training curriculum of the center.
“The curriculum review was necessitated by the need to ensure that our trainees were adequately equipped with the right knowledge and contemporary skills to enable them to have a comparative advantage with their counterparts when they leave this centre,” she said.
The DEPOWA president expressed confidence that the graduating trainees had all acquired the requisite skills in their chosen areas of endeavor.
According to her, the training will guarantee them self-sustenance, assist their families shortly, and ultimately make them useful members of society.
She thanked the service chiefs and all the senior officers who contributed to the success of the skills acquisition training and all other DEPOWA endeavors.
Mrs. Musa urged the trainees to make sure that they fully and responsibly utilise every opportunity that comes their way, as well as being bold, brave, disciplined, and continuing to improve upon the crafts they have learned from the centre.
The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the graduation marked a significant milestone in the lives of the beneficiaries, saying they stand on the threshold of a new chapter filled with opportunities and possibilities.
Musa commended the graduating trainees for their hard work, dedication, and perseverance, adding that the graduation was a testament to their commitment to personal and professional growth.
He also commended the president of DEPOWA, the wives of service chiefs, and the Inspector General of Police for their determination to assist the wives of fallen heroes and the vulnerable in the barrack community and beyond.
He lauded DEPOWA for nurturing talents and fostering a conducive learning environment that has played a pivotal role in shaping future leaders and innovators.
The CDS enjoined the trainees to embrace the journey ahead with courage, passion, and resilience.
In her remarks, the First President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Esther Bali, expressed delight with the progress so far made by the successive leadership of DEPOWA and their commitment to its vision.
Bali congratulated the trainees for successfully passing through the training and urged them to utilize the knowledge acquired for the betterment of the future
She said that while academic qualifications were important, it would be sufficient to complement them with a diverse set of skills.
She said the combination would enable individuals to successfully navigate the job market as both job seekers and successful independent entrepreneurs in their respective skills.
According to her, the solution to unemployment and empowerment lies in entrepreneurship and self-made businesses through skill acquisition. (NAN)
