The Inner Wheel District 910, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has begun constructing a skills acquisition centre in Karshi, Abuja, to promote the economic empowerment of women and girls.
District Chairman Dr Tola Adeseun disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja during the foundation-laying ceremony.
Adeseun said the project was designed to equip women, girls and young people in the host community with vocational skills, enabling them to become self-reliant and contribute productively to the economy.
She said Inner Wheel was an international charity and service organisation that had operated for more than 100 years, focusing primarily on the welfare and advancement of women and girls.
According to her, District 910 covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi and Nasarawa states, as well as neighbouring areas. Its core mandate is to help women and girls become responsible members of society.
“Empowering women and girls with the necessary vocational skills is vital to boosting our economy,” she said.
Adeseun expressed concern about rising youth unemployment, noting that many university graduates remained jobless and vulnerable to social vices.
“A lot of young people, even graduates, are jobless and roaming the streets, which can push them into becoming nuisances or criminals. We want to reduce that in our own little way,” she added.
She said the centre would have five classrooms for training in tailoring, hairdressing, baking, cooking and information technology, including a fully equipped computer laboratory.
Adeseun appealed to the Federal Government, corporate organisations and other groups to partner with the NGO to complete and operate the facility.
“We cannot handle this alone. For instance, the Minister of Power can assist us in solarising the centre or ensuring steady electricity, because computers and machines cannot function without power,” she said.
She urged young people to take vocational training seriously rather than rely solely on white-collar government jobs, adding that skilled artisans often earn more than degree and diploma holders.
Former Accountant-General of the Federation Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, who delivered the keynote address, described the project as a timely intervention that would allow residents to learn new skills or upgrade existing ones.
Madein said vocational skills enhanced employability and created sustainable opportunities for financial independence.
“When you learn a skill, making economic gains becomes easier, and women, who are often at the far end of the economic spectrum, can meaningfully support their families,” she said.
The Chairman of the Project Committee, Mrs Adenike Bamisayo, said the facility would include a 150-seat hall and five training classrooms.
Bamisayo described the centre as a “game changer” that would improve the livelihoods of Karshi residents, particularly women and girls.
Africa Independent Television (AIT) media personality Mr Oloyede Oworu commended the organisation for initiating the project, noting that the government alone could not meet all development needs.
He said community-based vocational initiatives helped unlock people’s talents and foster financial independence.
The District Head of Karshi, Mr Elijah Medoka, thanked the organisation for locating the project in his community.
He said the centre would help reduce youth restiveness and idleness and assured the donors that the community would take ownership of the facility and maintain it after its completion.
Medoka appealed to the centre’s management to hire qualified and experienced instructors to ensure effective training.
