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, had in 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 intensive training had eighty seven participants, drawn mainly from Ugborodo community with handful of them from neighboring 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 trainings is an initiative by the non governmental organization, targeted at women and youth in the locality geared towards making them gainfully employed, economic 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 wellbeing, 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 becoming global brands by seeking more knowledge in their areas of specialties to improve on what they learned during their trainings.
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 graduands 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 graduands for 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 promoting it 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 to the growth, prosperity and development of his 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 graduands who were elated for successful completion of the five weeks training, thanked Eric Igban Foundation for creating an enabling society for the 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 presentation of certificates to the graduands, cultural displays and musical entertainments.