Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), of Abuja Archdiocese has launched the Second Phase of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development and Empowerment Scheme (YEDES).
The programme, which was declared opened last Monday by the Chairman of JDPC, Sir Josephat Abaagu, KSM is an initiative of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services, with a goal to strengthen the skills and financial security of vulnerable youths in the Archdiocese so as to enhance their livelihood.
Sir Abaagu in his welcome address revealed that across the globe, youth are an integral part to the growth and development of any nation.
“…while youths in the developed countries have access to various opportunities, the same cannot be said for youths in the developing countries which Nigeria is a part of. According to the United Nations World Youth Report and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, 142 million youth of under secondary age are out of school, while school enrollment rates averages only 14% in low-income countries.
“Furthermore, with worsen youth employment which is as a result of limited job opportunities, little or no knowledge of vocational and entrepreneurship skills; provide the platform for youths to adapt negative coping mechanisms such as drug abuse, theft, prostitution, kidnapping and mostly for female are exposed to abuse and sexual exploitation for survival.
“Hence, as one of JDPC’s thematic areas that aligns with its strategic focus which is to provide vocational training to youths and women, the YEDES project, in this Second phase is set to train and empower 200 youths in five relevant skills such as Interior/Exterior Decoration, Fish/Poultry Farming, Catering, Fashion Design and Web/App Design,” the Chairman said.
Affirming that the scheme is revolving, he said 72 youths were trained and empowered in the first phase in four in-demand skill set namely; Catering/Event Planning, Fashion Designing, Digital Photography/Video Editing and Graphic Design across three vocational skill centres in the Federal Capital Territory.
Being optimistic, he assured that with God’s and that of their partners the second phase of the YEDES project will even be more elaborately improved on and the trainings will be handled by qualified professionals across centers in some deaneries in Abuja for a period of 3 months.
“Also, during the period, the youths will not only be trained on entrepreneurship skills that would enhance their ability to step-up, manage and build their business, but they will also be empowered with start-up kits that would be provided to them at the end of the training.
“To ensure effectiveness and utmost performance, JDPC Abuja will set up a quality control system that will meticulously supervise the training sessions and also conduct surveys to further improve the training process.
“As God graces us, YEDES will continue to be improved upon yearly and it will continue to serve as a platform that provides opportunities to the young people of our nation for improved livelihood and financial security,” he assured.
On his part, the Executive Director, JDPC, Rev. Fr Solomon Uko thank the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama and his Auxiliary, His Lordship, Most Rev. Anselm Umoren, MSP, the board of Consultors of the Archdiocese for their good thoughts for the youths. He also thanked the Youth Commission of the Archdiocese for working with JDPC to empower the youths.
Fr Uko admonished the participants of the second phase of the project to take the training seriously as the skills they would acquire may change their life for better and make them employer of labour thereby making them self-reliant.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chairman of the Archdiocesan Youth Commission, Sir TonyMary Eko, KSJI revealed that the Archbishop wants the youths to self-reliant, get out of poverty, be self employed and be employers of labour.
Sir Eko explained that the training would last for three months. Participants are expected to attend classes three times a week and at the end for those who come out victorious, would be empowered.
He appealed to them take attendance seriously, be active, committed to learning, competent and consistent because those are the criteria for reward at the end of the project.
Also speaking at the event, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the Catholic Women of Nigeria of Abuja Archdiocese (CWOAA), Mrs Oligbo Maureen, who represented the President of CWOAA, Mrs Lilian Ebele Okoye said the Mrs Okoye is happy with the initiative and has promised to support it.
She called on all the participants to grab and make good use of the opportunity given them and never to let it pass them by, maintaining that they are lucky amongst many other youths in the Archdiocese who wish that they were selected for the project.
The PRO, however thanked the Archbishop for such a project aimed at giving youths a means of livelihood. She also thanked JDPC and their partners the project, which she described as apt and important for the youths.
One of the facilitators, Mr Ikheegbe Thomas Tunde, said acquiring skills needs commitment, hard work, creativity and patience.
Appealing to them to take the training seriously, Mr Thomas affirmed that the entrepreneurship training and empowerment of the Archdiocese would change the life of so many youths.
Praising the initiative of the Archbishop for instituting such a programme in the Archdiocese, the President, Catholic Youth of Nigeria (CYON), of Holy Trinity Parish, who represented the Archdiocesan President of CYON, Franklin Ekene said the project will help reduce crime tendencies and poverty in the society, even as he appealed to the participants to learn their desired skills with commitment and seriousness.
Giving his success story, Biem Tersoo Simeon described being a beneficiary of the first phase of YEDES as a rare opportunity, even as he encouraged participants of the second phase to embrace the programme and increase their passion for learning.
He urged them to put in extra effort, be serious, persistent and dedicated.