By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, said the agency has given seed grants of N650,000 per cooperative to further support their businesses of the groups, amounting to N32,500, 000 for the 50 groups.
She made the statements during the equipment handover ceremony of the first batch of graduands of skill acquisition Programme under the Migration II, known as the (Dare To Hope Project) in Edo state, said the project seeks to create alternatives to irregular migration through socio-economic empowerment and sensitization.
” The creation of alternatives to migration through socio-economic development and sensitization project implemented by ActionAid and its partners was conceptualized and being implemented .”
” Specifically to tackle the root causes of irregular Migration by training, equipping and monitoring youths in various skill areas such as fishing farming, makeup artistry, hairdressing, shoe, bag making, poutry, aluminum fabrication and bread making. ”
“The overall aim of the project is to contribute to improving socio-economic conditions of young people, so that they can make informed and voluntary choices, instead of being by economic causes to migrate.”
” As we graduate the first batch of 1000 benefiticiaries today. I am here to present the first batch of trainees who were identified after a through selection in Benin, Auchi and Uromi. To the granduands to which much is given, much is expected. ”
“You have been trained, formed into cooperatives, you will be equipped to receive seed grants of N650,000 per cooperatives to further support the businesses of the groups, amounting to 32,500,000 for the 50 groups. We believe the sky will only be your starting point. ”
“ActionAid will continue to monitor your performance while engaging with our donor to see how we can support the outstanding benefiticiaries who have demonstrated consistency, passion and dedication in their chosen trade,” Ene added.
In her remarks, wife of the Edo State governor, Mrs. Betsy’s Obaseki said the Edo State government is eager to train and develop the youths so that they can be self reliance in the state.
The governor wife said their aims is to ensure Edo youths are train on skills acquisition such as; fashion designer, shoe and bag making, fishery, poultry, headdressing and many other so that they can fend for themselves.
She thanked ActionAid for the initiative and for supporting the state government in curbing illegal migration in Edo state. She congratulated the graduands and appealed to the benefiticiaries to learn and develop self respect, discipline character and Godly manners so that they can excel in life.
Appreciating the NGO for their support, the Chairperson of the Etsako West local government, Hajia Khadijat Inusa Imonofi, said the council is willing to collaborate with ActionAid to enable them train some of the retunees from the local government who travel to abroad to look for Greener pastures.
Hajia Khadijat said, she was satisfied the way and manner in which ActionAid conduct their exercise of chosen their trainees, stressed that, the council is looking up to the next process.