As part of its contribution to reintegrating female migrants and returnees into society, a civil society group, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), has empowered 100 women with vocational skills.
WARDC, with support from the German Development Agency (GIZ), trained the women, who are primarily potential migrants and returnees from Libya, United Arab Emirates, Liberia and some European countries, in different skills such as catering and hotel management, fashion designing and hairdressing.
The training, tagged: “Inspire, Empower and Reintegrate Women”, lasted for eight weeks, and it empowers the beneficiaries, who are between the ages of 18 to 40, by developing their capacities through skill acquisition, vocational training, business mentorship and coaching.
Some of the equipment given to the beneficiaries include 12kg gas cylinders, gas cookers and ovens, sewing machines, standing hair steamer, make-up boxes, cake pans and washing basins.
Speaking at their graduation ceremony held in Lagos at the weekend, WARDC’s Executive Director, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, commended the 100 beneficiaries for their perseverance and commitment during the training.
While urging them to go and inspire the world, Akiyode-Afolabi said the project had empowered and reintegrated them in a world filled with obstacles and that they should not be intimidated by what the future holds.
She said the project targets returnees, potential migrants and vulnerable women, such as sex workers, women with disabilities, and women who suffer physical and psychological and economic violence.
On her part, the team leader at GIZ, Mrs Sandra Vermuijten, stated that her agency has been working in Nigeria since 1974 in collaboration with the Nigerian Government and that
Mrs Vermuijten also said that women comprise many of their project beneficiaries.
She said Nigeria has several challenges, adding that the impact of empowerment, like this project, is helping women to overcome difficulties because of its focus on one person, one job at a time.
