ITF trains 360 women in Kogi, 11 other states

The Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Sir Joseph Ari, has said that 360 women drawn from Kogi and 11 other states have been trained in tailoring and fashion design under the first phase of its Women Skills Empowerment Programme ( WOSEP).

Ari, who disclosed this yesterday at the ITF’s Industrial Training Skills Centre (ITSC), Lokoja, during the graduation and presentation of start-up packs to Kogi beneficiaries, said the programme was designed to close the wide gap of unemployment between the womenfolk and their male counterparts.

He said 30 women each were selected in Akwai-Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo and Yobe States and were trained for three months at its Industrial Training Skills Centres after which sewing machines were presented to them so they can start their businesses.

Ari, who was represented by a Deputy Training Manager in the agency, John Ayoade, said the programme was conceived to provide women with requisite technical and vocational skills to enhance their productive capacities, reduce unemployment and create wealth among women to in order to improve family life and standard of living.

Training Manager in charge of the centre, Ibrahim Umar, warned the beneficiaries against selling the startup packs given to them, adding they should use the opportunity to self reliant and become employers of labour.