Training, tools for 2200 Southeast women

It is a carefully planned jobs scheme aimed at taking women and youths in the Southeast off the misery of unemployment.

More than 2200 of them will not only be trained in entrepreneurial skills but will also be given tools to start off once their training is over.

The plan is staggered across four years.

Lift Saxum, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), is behind the plan.

Every year, no fewer than 550 women and youths in the Southeast of the country will benefit from the scheme.

The programme was launched at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu.

Lift Saxum, a non-profit organisation, aims at transforming the lives of youths and women by promoting entrepreneurship through training, technical assistance, and support for start-ups.

Lawyer and former senior executive with First Bank Plc Mrs Nwanneka Okolo is founder and CEO of the enterprise development NGO, which has the backing of several outstanding personalities in the academia, religion, banking, commerce and entrepreneurship.

Enugu high society turned out in large numbers and filled the Convention Hall of Nike Lake Resort Hotel to witness the flag-off of the NGO which is supported by Fate Foundation and GTB founder Dr. Fola Adeola and is midwifed by Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, founder of Leap Africa, also an enterprise development agency, and former Minister of Information Mr Frank Nweke Jr.

Directors include Elder Kalu Uke Kalu, former chairman of Union Bank plc who chairs the Board, Monsignor Prof Ike, former Chairman of Growing Business Foundation, and the Group MD of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti. Others include Ms Lauretta Aniagolu, Prof Chidi Onyia, Prof Nkadi Onyegebu, director of the Institute of Education, University of Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Adenaike, Dr. Virgy Anohu, Dr Ifediora Amobi and Mr Ikeazor Akaraiwe.

Present at the event were the Secretary to the Enugu State Government Mr Amaechi Okolo, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Mr Chijioke Agwu, Commissioner for Gender Matters Mrs Ndidi Chukwu and adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Youth Empowerment Mr Barth Ezugwu. The Igwe of Enugu Nike HRH A Nnaji was also present, as were many women and youth organisations.

Chairman of Lift Saxum Elder Kalu affirmed that “Lift Saxum is carefully thought out to bridge a yawning gap in welfare services to young men and women in this part of the country”.

Founder and CEO Mrs Nwanneka Okolo stated that the organisation was established to help young people and women realise their full potentials through enterprise and wealth creation, so that they can maximise the realised potentials with outputs that will contribute significantly to their lives and the society at large.

Okolo cited findings from the 2010 World Bank Data Report showing that almost 70% of Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 24 who are seeking work are unemployed. These unemployed youths are most likely those with insufficient formal education and/or in the country’s rural areas.

Similarly, the 2011 report of the National Committee on Job Creation reveals that 82% of unemployed Nigerians have secondary school education or less, while 70% of Nigerian youths surveyed in the British Council Next Generation Report (2010) believe that their education does not adequately prepare them for the job market.

The Lift Saxum boss said these statistics and observable facts in the environment inform the focus on youth and women as primary areas of concentration for Lift Saxum’s programmes. Noting the renowned entrepreneurial bent of the people of the South East, Mrs Okolo said this characteristic was often vitiated by lack of adequate knowledge to translate drive into programmes and plans that could build sustainable ventures.

Mrs Okolo stated, “Modern entrepreneurship thrives on the twin tools of knowledge and skills. Lift Saxum seeks to equip the youth and women with the tools for successful entrepreneurship in the contemporary economy. In simple terms, we want to teach them how to fish so they would never lack.

“Our objective is not to turn people into millionaires overnight, but rather in the spirit of principles of modern enterprise development, to provide a veritable platform for our target group to realize their potentials. Lift Saxum is a solid rock that would provide a launch pad for the youth and women of the South East, beginning here in Enugu State.”

She unveiled three core programmes of Lift Saxum to include a four month training programme for start-ups called Start Your Own Business, Enterprising Woman, a three-month course exclusively for women, and Lift Biz, being short courses to equip participants for the work place.

The CEO said Lift Saxum plans to train and equip more than 2200 women and youth over the next four years.

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