Abia state governor’s wife Priscilla Otti has empowered with Skills, Cash and Tools, the 54 first cohort of beneficiaries of her facilitated Safe Tent Care Initiative to enable them commence businesses or expand them.
They had been trained for three months to acquire skills in various aspects of Catering, including pastry-making, food production, decoration among others under the Skill Up Abia Women programme and Safe Tent Care project being championed by Mrs Otti.
Each of the 54 aged between 15 and 35 years, was given Start-up kit comprising an Oven, Gas burner, Utensils, and essential ingredients, including ₦200,000 grant to enable them to launch or expand their businesses
Speaking at Aba Sports Club Aba, while presenting the beneficiaries with the empowerment items, Mrs Otti said that the Skill-Up Abia Women programme targets to provide vulnerable and underserved women, with high-demand, income-generating skills aimed at breaking cycles of poverty, fostering economic independence, and restoring dignity.
She charged them to make the best intended use of the Skills they acquired during their training and their empowered Tools, to drive away poverty, and create and embrace wealth.
She told them , “You are no longer just learners but entrepreneurs, wealth creators, and community builders hence, you now hold the power to shape your own destiny,”
Mrs. Otti further announced that continued mentorship, access to business advisory services, and inclusion in the Safe Tent Care empowerment network, would be available to the targeted group.
Earlier in her address, the Director of Vivdak Catering and Events Institute and Deputy Chairman of Isiala Ngwa South Council, Hon Vivian Obilor lauded Mrs. Otti’s quick approval of the programme in October 2024, disclosing that the 54 beneficiaries were selected through rigorous but transparent process from over 500 applicants.
Hon Obilor told the beneficiaries that having been trained and empowered “You are now financially independent, skilled entrepreneurs ready to create your own success stories.”
Similarly, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation, Chief ( Mrs ) Ifeoma Thomas, said that the Safe Tent Care Initiative is a non-profit Outfit dedicated to providing safe, supportive spaces for women, girls, and children to gain the skills and resources they need to thrive.
There were Goodwill messages by
the Wife of the state Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Adaeze Chidera Emetu, Commissioners for Women Affairs Dr. (Mrs.) Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa, and Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection. Mrs Blessing Ngozi Felix.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Ananaba Favour and Miss Agu Chioma separately expressed appreciation for the wealth- growing skill training and tangible empowerment,
” We thank Her Excellency’s motherly love and believing in our potential, even when she did not know us personally”.
It was gathered that the Skill Up Abia Women programme contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) , and forms part of the Safe Tent Care Initiative’s broader mission to advance empowerment, healthcare access, advocacy, and psychosocial support across Abia State.
Report By GORDI UDEAJAH
