The Commissioner for Education, Ambassador Dr Donatus Chukwuma Ilang, has expressed pleasure at the work of non-governmental organisations that are equipping students with practical skills across the state.
Dr Ilang made the remarks while receiving a report from Aspire Initiative, which runs skills-acquisition programmes for school pupils. He thanked the group for its commitment and urged other NGOs and philanthropists to emulate its example. He said skills acquisition is central to the state government’s education policy and non-negotiable in today’s economy.
Mrs Helen Owo, Head of the Private Engagement Sector in the Ministry of education, told the commissioner that not fewer than 389 students have recently been trained in a range of trades across several schools in the state. Earlier programmes also reached about 108 students in areas such as fashion design, catering and information and communications technology.
Comrade Ene Peculiar, state coordinator of Aspire Initiative, described youth empowerment as a vital tool for addressing social and economic challenges. She said, "Teach a young person to fish rather than give them a fish," adding that practical skills give youths lasting opportunities.
Speaking before the start of a three-hour practical session, Comrade Ene said the initiative aligns with the ministry’s new policy and its aim to empower youths, adolescents and women with knowledge and marketable skills. She described Aspire’s role as catalytic for sustainable development.
The practical skills sessions ran simultaneously across departments and ended with visible results and high spirits among participants. Students who took part — including Augustine Onyinyechi and Ogwonu Bleeding in fashion design; Nwoma Toochukwu and Nwazunku Ogechi in catering; and Onyeze Miracle and Ogbara Jonathan in ICT — expressed gratitude and urged Aspire not to relent.
The schools visited during the exercise included Umuohara Community Secondary School in Ezza North Local Government Area, Abakaliki High School (Presco) and Nnodo Secondary School, among others.
Dr Ilang congratulated Aspire Initiative for its impact and reiterated the ministry’s readiness to partner with credible organisations to expand opportunities for young people across the state.
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