... As More Beneficiaries Trained in Fashion Design Receive Starter Packs
By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh & Laura Oghene
It was an atmosphere of excitement and gratitude to the Delta State Government for its job and wealth creation programme as more beneficiaries of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) receive starter pack in Asaba.
The beneficiaries who were 80 in number comprised the second batch of the 146 STEP graduates who successfully completed their hands-on training, passed the post-training proficiency test and attended the Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training (EBMT.)
The starter pack items included an industrial sewing machine (EMEL); a complete manual sewing machine (Butterfly); a cutting table; a pair of iron scissors; 5 packs violin needles (machine needles); 10 sewing threads; a steam iron; a generator, and ₦100,000.00 shop rent.
One of the beneficiaries, Icheredia Enduement who hails from Okpe Local Government Area, expressed happiness for his enrolled into STEP. She pointed out that training as a fashion designer has saved her from three years of unemployment after graduation from the university.
“I am excited and fulfilled having acquired this skill. I am elated seeing my starter pack. I am grateful to Governor Okowa and to the State Government for the job creation initiative.
“With my starter pack and the shop rent of ₦100, 000.00, I shall open a shop immediately,” she enthused.
She pledged to use the knowledge acquired to create her own style and to bring fashion to a top-notch level.
On his part, Onoriode Iwhiwhu, (Ethiope East LGA) expressed hope that the vocational skill acquired and the starter pack were guarantee for meaningful employment for him after ten years of underemployment.
He emphasized that the seven months training had sufficiently equipped him to make all kinds of male wears including senator suits, agbada, shirts and trousers, pledging to improve his skills continually in order to meet international standard.
According to him, “My dream is to grow my fashion business and to make my brand compete favourably in the international market. I want to expand so as to become a trainer and an employer too.”
He lauded the State Government for the job creation programme, affirming that so many Delta youths including himself have because self-employed through STEP.
In his remark, the Programme Co-ordinator (STEP) Mr. Onyeisi Nkenchor, while congratulating the new graduands for the successful completion of the programme charged them to judiciously use their starter packs and the wealth of knowledge acquired through the programme to become great entrepreneurs.
He explained that the 80 STEPreneurs established with starter packs today were the second batch of the 146 STEP graduands who successfully completed their vocational training, passed the completion proficiency test and attended the Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training (EBMT.)
