Abuja: No fewer than 300 residents of Kabusa Community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have benefited from the pilot vocational skill acquisition programme of the Input for Development, an NGO, in Abuja. The Convener of the NGO, Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, said the initiative focused on maturing and utilising talents for development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the programme, entitled ‘Operation Busy Hands’, was designed to support government and other ongoing efforts towards achieving the 2030 United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr Bamigboye highlighted that the vocational skill acquisition, an empowerment programme, was inspired by the economic hardship seen around local communities in the country and around the world.
He explained that the aim is to empower people in their communities, emphasizing the importance of private sector involvement in achieving the SDGs due to the significant resources required. By empowering the communities, the programme aims to generate employment and wealth, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs.
The NGO facilitated training in various skills such as soap-making, production of body and hair cream, detergent, insecticide, Vaseline, air fresheners, antiseptics, bag-making, tailoring, catering, painting, printing, among others.
Mr Silas Agara, the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), commended the initiative for its focus on addressing youth unemployment, underemployment, and the need for inclusive and sustainable livelihoods. He emphasized that such initiatives are vital for social stability, economic empowerment, and national development.
Agara pointed out that well-structured initiatives can serve as scalable models, attract partnerships, and contribute meaningfully to local economic development. He expressed hope that the pilot programme would deliver immediate outcomes and evolve into a sustainable platform complementing national employment policies.
Mr Obinna Okafor, the General Manager of the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), a World Bank-assisted project, expressed readiness to partner with the NGO to expand the initiative. The Operation Busy Hands programme aligns with CSDP’s objectives, and Okafor emphasized the importance of engaging beneficiaries with the Labour Intensive Public Work programme of CSDP.
Mrs Magret Moses, one of the trainers in soap-making, urged the Federal Government to provide startup kits and grants for the beneficiaries to prevent them from returning to inactivity due to a lack of resources to start their own businesses.
One of the beneficiaries, Master Timothy Olamide, a 17-year-old trained in bag-making, expressed satisfaction with the training. He was previously a sales boy and now aspires to establish his own brand, seeking support to start his venture.
The event concluded with the presentation of a first aid box to a government primary and secondary school in the community and a novelty soccer match featuring Super Sports FC, Oduduwa FC, Mirald FC, and Young Star FC.