From Msughshima Andrew, Makurdi
Sev-Av Foundation, a Non Governmental Organization, (NGO) established by the former First Lady of Benue state, Arch. Yemisi Suswam, has graduated a total of 152 students, young widows inclusive, trained in various categories of skills.
Out of the number, 25 graduates of the Skills Acquisition programme were given various prizes for outstanding performances while some trainers were also rewarded for outstanding services.
Speaking at the 12th graduation and prize giving ceremony in Makurdi, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of the foundation and former Benue State First Lady, Arch. Yemisi Suswam who presented the awards among other dignitaries, described the graduates “as the most vibrant,” in the life of the foundation.
Mrs Suswam said her foundation had focused on school drop outs and young widows with the view to equipping them with skills that can help them out of despair, provide opportunities for them to contribute to the socio-economic stability of Nigeria and also achieve self actualisation.
She said it may be a tough decision for young graduates to look the way of skill acquisition but that it is a wise way out of idleness and hopelessness.
“In Nigeria today, there is increasing need for young families to get a second job. Even if you are in a white collar job, you need an alternative dignified source of income to break even,” Yemisi said.
Mrs Suswan who cautioned that wealth cannot be built by fraudulent ways, begging nor pesting on the labour of others emphasized hard work, diligence and Godliness.
She therefore implore the graduates to go out and seize every given opportunity in the society, deploying the skills acquired in the six months of training to manage and sustain their business, while urging them to eschew social vices, saying it is deadly.
Her husband, Senator Gabriel Suswam ad Chairman, Board of Trustees of the foundation, lauded his wife’s determination in running the foundation acknowledging that it has, over the years, impacted many Benue youths.
“It appears I’m a very determined person but my wife is more determined. I don’t know how she does it but she has continued even after we left office”, said Suswam who also noted that he personally enjoys the benefits of the foundation.
He lamented that “we have imposed a lot of negativity on ourselves and because of politics, many people have refused to engage in meaningful ventures. What my wife has done is set the pace and I advise people to leverage on it.”
The Benue North East Senator urged graduates on the streets, without jobs to take advantage of skills acquisition centres in the state to improve on themselves and add value to their lives and the society at large.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Shimataver Aper thanked the foundation for the knowledge and pledged to put them to judicious use.
Aper also appealed to state government and privileged individuals to assist the foundation financially to enable it provide all graduates with start up kits for their businesses just as he urged fellow Benue youths to take advantage of the opportunities to better their lives.
The graduates were trained in Fashion Designing, Information and Communication Technology, (ICT), Beauty Enhancement Therapy, Catering and Spice Making and Knitting and Beading.
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