Eric Igban Foundation at the weekend graduated its 3rd batch of trainees’ Skills Acquisition Programme for indigenes of the oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The ceremony presided over by the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Dr Andrew Igban, in memory of his late elder brother, Eric Igban, was attendance the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, other government officials, political figures and leaders of thought in Ugborodo and its environ.
The five weeks of intensive training had eighty-seven participants, drawn mainly from Ugborodo community with a handful of them from neighbouring communities, trained in all forms of Baking, Make-up Artistry and Headgear Stylist.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr Andrew Igban explained that the skills acquisition training is an initiative by the non-governmental organization, targeted at women and youth in the locality geared towards making them gainfully employed, economically independent and employers of labour.
Dr Igban, who highlighted several people’s oriented programmes held in the past by the Eric Igban Foundation, restated the commitment of the non-profit-making body to promoting socio-economic well-being, meaningful youth engagement, quality education, standard health care services and sustainable development in Ugborodo.
He said his late elder brother, Eric, of whose memory the foundation was established, died while championing the development of Ugborodo, stressing that his dreams for a prosperous community will not die.
Dr Igban thanked Ugborodo community leaders, youths, women and everyone that have contributed to making the vision and mission of the foundation a reality, even as he encouraged beneficiaries of the skills acquisitions programmes to strive to become global brands by seeking more knowledge in their areas of specialities to improve on what they learned during their training.
He paid glowing tribute to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor for his financial support and presence at the closing ceremony of the 3rd edition of the empowerment programme.
The former youth leader pledged the sum of Four Million Naira to encourage and support the graduates to start up their own businesses, stressing the need for them to set up their studios and bakeries.
Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, congratulated the beneficiaries for the successful completion of the skill acquisition training and urged them to work hard to achieve greatness for themselves, family and society at large.
The Speaker who represents Warri South West in the Assembly, promised to seek ways government can key into the laudable programmes of the Foundation and partner with it to promote its interests, even as he assured the people of Ugborodo of more development.
Rt Hon Guwor commended Dr Igban for the legacy projects to immortalize his late elder brother Eric, and encouraged him never to be distracted in his efforts towards the growth and development of Ugborodo community.
Some leaders who spoke also expressed profound gratitude to Dr Andrew Igban for promoting peace, healthy living and development in the community and charged the beneficiaries of the Eric Igban Foundation to remain good ambassadors of their benefactor.
The beneficiaries who were delighted with the successful completion of the five weeks of training, thanked the Eric Igban Foundation for creating an enabling society for future generations.
They expressed joy that most of them are now makeup artists, headgear stylists and bakers, saying that the cakes, chin chin, doughnuts, fish roll, meat pie, egg roll, and shawarma served at the ceremony were their products as a way of exhibiting what they learned during the training.
The high points of the event were the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries, cultural displays and musical entertainment.
