Poverty alleviation: FCTA,World empower 1,170 residents with skills

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

In furtherance to ongoing effort at alleviating poverty and promoting economic growth, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in collaboration with the World Bank have empowered 1,170 residents, with entrepreneurial  skills to improve their livelihoods.

Both partners through several facilitators of the programme, focusing primarily on skills acquisition and entrepreneurial activities among others trained residents drawn from across the six Area Councils of the Territory.

It was gathered that  the initiative, which is aimed at improving the standard of living as well as the socio-economic lives of the beneficiaries, had began since July, 2022.

This, was disclosed by the Acting General Manager of Labour Intensive Public Workfare (LIPW) of the FCT Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), Samuel Onwuka.

Onwuka spoke during the exit training flag-off ceremony, at the headquarters of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), in the FCT.

He explained that the training and empowerment exercise is a federal government scheme that began two years ago across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, has successfully engaged over a thousand beneficiaries as the first set in the nation’s capital.

He revealed that the scheme is working in consonance with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the Federal Government to lift 100 million people out of poverty, using education and gainful employment.

The General Manager said that the scheme also builds capacity of the beneficiaries, to enable them become self-reliant through entrepreneurship skills and income support.

He enjoined the beneficiaries to fervently put into practice what they have learned or taught within the period of two years, to improve themselves, even as the scheme gives them an exit training and presenting them with their certificates.

Onwuka, who appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and FCT minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, for their support in all ramifications, made a passion appeal for sustenance of same support for the new beneficiaries, who would be unveiled in the next few months.

CSDP is the flagship project that provides grants for human capital development of communities and vulnerable groups to enable them embark on various development agenda; while on the same vein, LIPW provides income support to vulnerable groups.