AE-FUNAI Trains Military Officers Soldiers’ Wives on Vocational Skills Acquisition

As part of its community engagement services geared towards empowering immediate communities, especially women with life skills for socio-economic self-reliance and community development, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State through its Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability (CEE) has organized a 3-day vocational skills acquisition programme for wives of military officers and soldiers of Nwagu Military Cantonment, Ebonyi State.

The multi-dimensional capacity building programme that had staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Industry (BoI) speaking to the women on the different funding opportunities available to Medium and Small Scale entrepreneurs, also led them through the practical process of making liquid soap, tie and dye clothing and confectionaries. The women were also exposed to health tips and the development of business plan.

While declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sunday Elom said the training would open doors of entrepreneurial opportunities in the cantonment, adding that the trainees would be equipped with necessary entrepreneurial skills on how to be productive, and thus be financially-independent and supportive to their families.

Myschoolnews reports the VC noted that the University Management approved the programme with the hope that the trainees will eventually become trainers, stressing that the financial uncertainties of the present world system suggest that women should be empowered with sellable and productive skills to contribute to their families, and national development.

The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by his Deputy in charge of Administration, Prof. Abel Ezeoha, further noted that the training programme would foster a strong synergy and cooperation between the military command and the university, and urged the military leadership to support the trainees with seed capital to enable them set-up small scale businesses based on the acquired skills, explaining that through such financial support, the women could become co-bread winners in their respective families.

The Commander and Commanding Officer, Nwagu Military Cantonment, Lt. Col. S.O Atomode while making his opening remarks, admonished the women not to despise the days of little beginning, noting that Nigeria is a country with lots of business opportunities.

He therefore urged them to maximize the opportunity presented by the training programme, as it is a rare one. He thanked the university under the Leadership of Prof. Elom for strengthening the bond and co-operation that exit between the two institutions.

The Cantonment Commander further assured that the trainees would be equipped financially to motivate them into starting businesses of their interest.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the event, the First Lady of Ebonyi State, HE Mrs. Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru urged the women to put into action the skills they have acquired from the training, stressing that entrepreneurship is the sure-way to self-reliance and economic stability.

The First Lady who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Barr. Mrs. Felicia Nwankpuma, commended the collaboration between the university and Nkwagu Military Cantonment, which gave rise to the vocational skills acquisition programme, and called for more support for the Nigerian women, especially wives of officers and men of the Armed forces.

The highlight of the closing ceremony of the event was the presentation of certificates and seed capital to the women. While the university presented certificates of participation to the 50 women that were part of the 3-day capacity building programme, the leadership of the Military Cantonment gave a seed capital of N20, 000 each to the 10 military officers’ wives and N15, 000 each to the 40 solders’ wives that participated in the programme.