Empowerment of women vital for Nigeria’s growth – IWS

By Ifeoma Ikem

As part of efforts to address the poverty and empowerment challenges confronting the nation, International Women Society (IWS) has graduated 65 students of the 2019 class.

The IWS centre, lekki-Lagos, which comprises students of various specialities, was established for the main purpose of taking miscreants off the streets.

Speaking at the 20th anniversary graduation/commissioning of the newly renovated skill acquisition centre, former Deputy Governor of Lagos state and the chairman, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who emphasised the need for more centres to be sited in all states of federation, said this would reduce unemployment, eradicate poverty and create jobs.

Urging women especially to get involved to ease their roles, she noted that almost a thousand graduated annually in different skills.
“Since the skills acquisition centre was launched during my tenure as deputy governor of Lagos state, we have graduated 900 students yearly.  It helps to reduced the burden of unemployment.
“As a mother, no woman will be happy seeing their children turn into miscreants in the society,

we need empowerment to enable us remove poverty among our women; skills acquisition is important. 

Women should improve themselves on skills knowledge because it is the best (solution against poverty).”

She further encouraged IWS and individuals to empower at least 5 women in their communities to help reduce poverty.

Chairperson of IWS, Mrs Feyisola Abiru, while expressing delight over the new facilities, stressed that the skills acquisition centre boasts expanded classrooms, additional blocks, an ultra modern catering facility, paved walk ways, and a 60kva generator.

According to her, the facility is strategic and would provide conducive atmosphere for the teachers and students, as well as rewrite the story of young people in Nigeria today. 
“In 1999, we started off with few beneficiaries. Now, we have over 1600 alumni of the IWS skills acquisition centre. Our centre has  evolved exponentially in the past 20 years.”

On her part, the IWS president,
Mrs Nkoli Ogbolu, noted that the centre’s achievement was both satisfactory and rewarding.  
She advised youths to invest in skills knowledge, utilise their energies and engage on creative ideas that would ultimately affect the society positively.
“Our centre has trained people with even first degrees, as a dynamic organization, we are wont to do that, ” she said.

The overall Best student of IWS Lekki centre, Onyeka Aduaka, enthused, “I am so happy I have achieved my dream. And being the overall best in 2019 class, it has always been my passion to sew though my first degree is Business Education/Accounting.
I am not going to stop here but put more effort to be among the best in fashion/designing.”