UMUOJI LAGOS EMPOWERS THEIR WOMEN

The effort of Umuoji Improvement Union to improve the welfare of their women by setting up a skills acquisition center has started yielding results. On Sunday, November 17, 2013, the centre known as Umuoji Improvement Union’ Institute of Transformation celebrated the graduation of its first set of nineteen students.

While delivering an address at the graduation ceremony which took place at Umuoji Civic Centre, Olodi Apapa –Lagos, the president of Umuoji Improvement Union, Women Wing, Lagos, Mrs. Franca Akana, said that the idea of setting up the institution was borne out of the need to improve the lives of their women by equipping them with vocational skills in different fields of endeavor. She charged the nineteen graduating students out of the initial twenty-six that started the program a year ago to put their skills to work. “Go forth and excel’ she said. “Remember that the footnote on your certificates says ‘go for gold and be your own boss’”.

The institution offers graduates training in catering and hotel management, soap and laundry agents production, cake and pastries, events management and interior décor, home management, dress making, nylon making, among others. The graduates were empowered with working tools like Nylon making machines, Ovens, Deep Freezers, Micro Wave etc, others received cash gifts to assist them in their businesses. \

Also, the President of the Umuoji Improvement Union, Lagos branch, Hon. Nonso Ekpunobi, who doubled as the Chairman of the event and Special Guest of Honour, noted that the idea of the institute is in line with the federal government’s transformation agenda for Nigerian women. He said that the program is open to all women of all professions who may still want to acquire additional skills and training. “Put pride aside” he urged the women. “Avail yourselves the opportunity provided by the institute to enhance your potentials”.

He encouraged the Union to always think positively and continue to touch the lives of their women as this is one of the cardinal reasons for forming the Union. He assured them that the men will continue to support them whenever the need arises.

In her speech, the President of the Catholic Women Organisation, St Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, Princess Sinatra Olu, who attended the occasion, advised women to take adequate advantage of the institution, acquire the necessary skills and be equipped to always support their husbands. She said that the vision is exemplary and noted that Umuoji is the first town to execute such program for her women. The union also used the occasion to give bags of food items and cloths to the widows amongst them.