NGO trains, empowers 65 vulnerable people in Nasarawa State

Arewa Development Support Initiative, an NGO, has empowered 65 vulnerable and indigent people in Nasarawa State with business starter packs after receiving training in various skills.
Presenting the starter packs to the beneficiaries on Sunday in Lafia, Dr Zainab Ahmed, Nasarawa State Coordinator of the NGO, said they were selected irrespective of their social, tribal or religious affiliations.
Dr Ahmed said the exercise was part of the NGO’s intervention to address issues undermining educational, economic growth, and peaceful coexistence among the people of the northern part of the country.
She said the exercise was also a fulfilment and testimony of the NGO’s objective of “One North, One people’’ for a greater Nigeria, adding that it would sustain its skills acquisition training in Nasarawa State.
“This intervention is not something we will execute and stop; we shall look at other areas of intervention and execute them.
“This we believe is the surest way to reduce poverty and unemployment among the people of the northern part of the country,’’ she said.
Dr Ahmed enjoined the beneficiaries as master trainers to train other indigent and vulnerable people to become self-reliant so they could contribute to the socio-economic growth and development of Nasarawa State.
She thanked Nasarawa State’s Vocational and Relevant Technology Board for various support and collaboration.
She also appealed to governments at all levels and individuals to partner with the NGO to enable it to scale up its skills acquisition programme.
In his remarks, Dr Idris Umar-Idris, General Manager of the Board, expressed gratitude for the success of the exercise and assured the NGO of continuous partnership.
Mr Aminu Maifata, Chairman, Lafia Local Government Council, commended the NGO for the training and empowerment of the indigent and pledged support to enable it to do more for society.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Muhammed Usman thanked the NGO and the Vocational and Relevant Technology Board for the training and empowerment and promised to make judicious use of the working tools given to them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries were trained for months in vulcanising, tailoring, plumbing, carpentry and tie-and-dye and solar power installation, among others.