As the need for entrepreneurship and skills acquisition rises, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Divine Grace Positive Life Empowerment Initiative (DIGPLEI) Nigeria, on Friday April 9th 2021, graduated another batch of trainees who were trained in Catering and Fashion Designing in Isuikwuato LGA of Abia State.

Speaking to AF-NEWS, the project coordinator, Mr Alban Chibuike Ugoagha expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the program which includes;  asb e.V Stuttgart ( Aktion Selbstbesteurung), NUE ( Norddeutsch stiftung for Umwelt und Entwicklung),  (PLGE), HCS BUNDES JH/FHH, SCHMITZ STIFTUNGEN, all in Germany, the applicants who resolved to acquire a skill and trustee members of DiGPLEI Honorable Stanley Maduagwu and Pastor Chika Udeh.

WATCH VIDEO ATTACHED:

He said;

“Today, we have 20 graduands in fashion designing and pastry making.

” It was a dual program, that is, each student was trained in fashion designing and catering . The students were trained, examined and certified.

” Training will commence next week Monday for a new batch.

” We also have ICT training here, we have also graduated students. Currently, we have handed over the ICT training to the community to handle.

” The sewing and pastry department will be managed by the N.G.O. for three months. That is by June, it will also be given to the community to manage.

Reacting on how the Vocational Centre would be sustained, Ugoagha said;

” Our sponsors are Germans, and our interest is sustainability.

” After hand over, the N.G.O. will still act as a supervisory medium to ensure that the community manages it well.

” If the community fails to maintain the facility, we will withdraw the facility “.

While addressing the beneficiaries of the program, the community representative, Elder Chukwudi Ejike advised the graduands to make proper use of the machines given to them to ensure that the time and effort invested will not be wasted.

Umunnekwu-Agbo community, expressed gratitude to the N.G.O, it’s German sponsors, and prayed that God will enrich them more.

Meanwhile, the President, Divine Grace Positive Life Empowerment Initiative, Mrs Chika Ugoagha in her address said;

“Today, history has been made in your lives, don’t take it for granted.

“As the very first beneficiaries and graduates of this great citadel of learning, I say a huge congratulation to everyone of you.

“Having been Empowered by Divine Grace Positive Life Empowerment Initiative and her Foreign Partner, Positive Life Global Empowerment, with one standard sewing machine, each, I encourage you to go beyond acquiring this skill by setting up your own businesses that will be of economic benefit in your vicinity and the society at large”.

Some of the graduands, Mrs Mary Chinenye and Miss Joy Okoroji, said they had started earning money from the skill acquired. They thanked the facilitators of the program and promised to teach their successors.

Highlight of the event was; presentation of snacks, clothes made by the graduands, issuing of 15 sewing machines and certificates to the beneficiaries.