INTELS Nigeria Limited, has graduated 62 beneficiaries of its Women Empowerment Project Scheme Synergy (WEPSS) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The oil and gas logistics firm also donated 500 garments designed by the graduating class to its host communities.
The graduation ceremony took place at the WEPSS Training Centre, Rosa Volpi Women Development Centre, Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne Port, Rivers State.
As part of the graduation event, INTELS presented the 500 garments to the Tilda Goes Green Foundation in Port Harcourt.
This marks the 11th graduation since WEPSS was established in 2013, bringing the total number of trained beneficiaries to 2,047. The program aims to empower 5,000 women over a 20-year period with skills in fashion design and tailoring.
During the ceremony, INTELS managing director, Pasquale Fiore, highlighted the company’s commitment to empowering women and uplifting communities.
“We believe that when we invest in a woman, we are investing in a powerful source for global development. Since its inception, WEPSS has empowered over 2,000 women. Each year, we strive to improve by taking on bigger projects to support more women and provide them with the tools they need to succeed,” Fiore said.
Addressing the graduates, he added that, “Knowledge is power, and ambition is the driver. Use the skills you’ve acquired to excel in the fashion industry, and always remember the importance of giving back to society.”
Fiore also praised the WEPSS staff for their dedication in delivering professional training that has a lasting impact on the lives of the participants.
The executive director, Legal, Corporate Services, Contracts, and Compliance of INTELS Nigeria Limited, Amaopusenibo Mike Epelle, urged the graduates to leverage their training for personal and professional growth.
“You have an opportunity to showcase your creativity and to become role models for other women. Develop yourselves further, improve your collections, and make good use of the knowledge gained here,” Epelle said.
He also commended INTELS’ ongoing commitment to community development, describing the company as “a model for corporate social responsibility in Nigeria.”
WEPSS project manager, Nancy Freeborn, applauded the continuous support of INTELS leadership in sustaining the program. She emphasized how the initiative has transformed lives over the past 11 years.
“Many women have walked into this training center with dreams and left empowered with skills to achieve them. Today, we celebrate 62 new success stories as they step into the world of fashion,” Freeborn said.
She cited examples of past beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed by the program. She said Esther Wehere, the 2022 Best Graduating Trainee, received N2 million and a shop from INTELS. Today, she employs nine apprentices and produces over 30 garments monthly. Similarly, she said, Dorbobari Dick, the 2023 Batch A Best Graduating Trainee, who also received N2 million and a shop from INTELS, now has six apprentices and creates 20 garments a month.
At the ceremony, 2024 Best Graduating Trainee, Obarijima Lewa was awarded N2 million and a starter kit, which included an industrial sewing machine and a steam iron. Starter kits were also presented to 15 other top-performing graduates.
Hannah Brown, the Best Graduating Trainee of the 2023 Batch B, received keys to a fully furnished and equipped shop to launch her fashion design career.
Beyond WEPSS, INTELS has remained a vital contributor to Nigeria’s development through its host community initiatives. The company supports infrastructure development, scholarships, healthcare, vocational training, and other programs designed to improve quality of life.
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