Poverty reduction: Agency empowers youths with vocational skills

By Stanley Onyekwere

As part of the effort towards reducing poverty in the society, youths in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with entrepreneurial skills, thereby enabling them create new entreprises, jobs and generate wealth.
In particular, the trainees numbering over one hundred were trained in effective business planning, financial literacy and business communication amongst other modules, aimed at helping them succeed in professional photography business.
The trainees trained by Abuja Entreprises Agency (AEA) were issued certificates, and starter packs in form of state-of-the-art cameras and auxiliary gadgets worth five million naira, presented to ten outstanding trainees, to enable them effectively maximize the acquired photography knowledge.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the skills acquisition training on photography, Chudi U Ezirigwe, who represented AEA’s Managing Director, , said the scheme was fully funded by the FCT Administration.
Ezirigwe said the beneficiaries who are. FCT residents, were provided with business advisory to guide them on a step by step process of starting and running their businesses.
While urging the participants to maximize their acquired skills, the AEA boss assured that the FCT Administration through AEA and other relevant bodies will support initiatives conceptualized to facilitate inclusive and rapid development in Abuja.
He therefore called on all stakeholders to support youths and women by facilitating access to workplace, finance and mentorship programmes.
According to him, “the training came out of the FCT Administration’s desire to build the capacity of the residents of Abuja to start and successfully run their businesses.
“To achieve this, requires all the stakeholders to join hands in supporting the participants who successfully complete the programme.
“The FCT Administration has proactively approved the distribution of starter packs in the form of photography equipment for the best 10 participants; this will lead to them being able to start their photography business.”
Some of the participants who spoke with PeoplesDaily, described the training programme as invaluable initiative, commended the AEA and its partners for the rare opportunity of acquiring photography knowledge.