The Centre for Community Actions for Peace and Development (CCAPAS), a non-Governmental-Organisation, has empowered 40 youths in Nasarawa State with startup parks and skills to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship capabilities.
The beneficiaries, drawn from Lafia, Keffi, and Karu Local Government Areas, underwent a six-month training program in various skills, including tailoring, barbing, hairdressing, handset repairs, and computer repairs.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony on Wednesday in Lafia, Mr Ahmed Salah, Executive Director of CCAPAS said the gesture was to foster entrepreneurship and make the beneficiaries productive members of the society.
He added that the beneficiaries were trained for six months under strict supervision and sponsorship of the organization to ensure that they were engaged and made unavailable for any crime.
The executive director added that the organization’s mandate is to empower local actors to promote peace-building, human rights, democracy, and religious tolerance.
He added that the organisation serves as a connecting platform for all the community development associations, especially in crisis-prone areas, to help them discuss their challenges and resolve them nonviolently.
He listed the items distributed to include sewing machines, generators, clippers, dryers, hairdressing tools and products, phone repair tools and equipment, and computer tools for computer repairs, among others.
The executive director, therefore, urged the beneficiaries not to resale the items but to use them to improve their lives and the welfare of their family members.
The organis ation also disbursed funds to five community development associations in Lafia to promote peace-building, human rights, democracy, and religious tolerance.
He said that the associations that received funding include the Ay Chindo Foundation, Mulapnen Capacity Building, Lafia Hopeful Hearts Association for Girls, Every Girl Initiative Lafia, and Shelter Life Environmental Initiative Lafia.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Allu Patrick from Lafia expressed gratitude to CCAPAS for the empowerment to start their businesses.
He added that during the intensive training, the organisation was monitoring them every day to make sure they were present in their respective training venues.
Patrick added that he would start looking for a shop to begin tailoring immediately with the sowing machine he was given by the organization.
He also promised to teach other public members interested in learning to sew with the practical knowledge he received. (NAN).