In a determined effort to combat unemployment and empower women, over 200 young women and girls have successfully received vocational training through a step-down skills acquisition programme organized by the Women’s Wing of the Maigari Youth Organization (MYO) in Yobe State.
The impactful Women Empowerment Programme in Yobe was designed to equip participants with practical entrepreneurial skills, promoting economic independence and community development among women in the region.
Facilitating the event, the Commissioner of the Federal Character Commission representing Yobe State, Alhaji Jibrin Mai Gari, highlighted the importance of the initiative in addressing the challenges of unemployment and vulnerability faced by uneducated women and girls. Represented by Mamman Maje, he noted that poverty among married women and girls contributes to social problems such as street hawking, child abuse, broken marriages, prostitution, and rape.
“This training aims to build a foundation for self-reliance, empowering women to not only support their families but also contribute meaningfully to the growth of their communities,” he stated.
Alhaji Mai Gari further revealed plans to extend similar skills acquisition programmes to men through government-owned vocational centers across the state’s local government areas. He also announced that each participant would receive a token to help kick-start their small businesses.
The Women’s Leader overseeing the programme, Hajiya Habiba Abubakar, described the training as timely and crucial, especially considering Nigeria’s current economic realities. She emphasized that empowering women with sustainable skills would ease financial burdens in homes and reduce dependency on their spouses.
“Many of the difficulties women face in their marital homes stem from economic dependency. This programme offers an opportunity for women to contribute financially and reshape their destinies,” she noted.
Hajiya Habiba also urged parents to prioritize skills acquisition for their children at a young age, stressing that it would help secure a brighter, self-reliant future for the next generation.
Beneficiaries interviewed expressed joy and optimism, stating that the knowledge gained would positively impact their lives and help tackle societal issues when put into practice.
The event, held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Federal College of Education, Potiskum, featured live demonstrations on producing everyday essentials such as Room Fresheners, Vaseline, and Liquid Soap — practical skills that participants could immediately turn into income-generating ventures.
