Gov. Otu’s wife,  Eyoanwan supports training of 6000 girls on technical skills in C’River

From Ene Asuquo Calabar 

The wife of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu has supported a digital training programme for forty (40) graduates and undergraduates to foster creativity and economic independence.

Mrs. Otu, who is a firm supporter and initiator of the ‘‘Girls in STEM’’ project where more than six thousand young girls have been trained to develop technical skills, commended the “Women In Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Centre” for the initiative.

Otu, represented by her Special Adviser Administration, Comfort Okoh, said that acquiring skills in digital technology was relevant to gain employment in many sectors of the global economy.

She stated, “this is a very welcomed initiative and training to empower young graduates and undergraduates with skills that would enable them to navigate life. Many organisations employ people with additional skills, especially digital skills, which are the reason for the ‘Girls in STEM’ project,” she disclosed.

She commended the funders, the Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF), for collaborating with the centre to train forty beneficiaries, urging the beneficiaries to effectively utilize the opportunity to become entrepreneurs. 

“Those of you, who have been selected, should take this training very seriously. This is additional skills that are provided for you free of charge and I would encourage you to show interest, develop yourselves and all you have to do is transport yourselves to the venue of the training, it is a worthy sacrifice you all must make to get the best of the free fully funded training,” she urged.  

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Earlier, the founder and executive director, ‘Women In Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Centre’, Roibito Ekpiken-Ekanem said that as a non-profit, apolitical organisation, the focus is to promote gender equality, empower women and girls through this kind of initiative.

Ekpiken-Ekanem stated, “in recent times, tech skills have become essential for personal and professional development. As such, this Tech Skills Training Programme is aimed at addressing critical social issues among youths that would enhance self-employment.”

She explained that the organisation was collaborating with ICCEF as the funder to “equip 40 in-school university students and graduates with 4 key tech skills in Graphic Design, Data Analytics, Front-End Web Design and Digital Marketing.

“This training programme would provide the trainees with hands-on experience and practical knowledge in digital skills; encourage creativity and innovation as well as collaborative learning and serve as a foundation to pursue advanced studies in digital skills,” the founder explained.

Similarly, the Programme Manager at ICCEF, Ms. Ayo Olanrewaju gave a brief overview of the foundation and the commitment of the funders to provide young people a platform that unlocks opportunities for peer learning and IT start ups.

She urged the beneficiaries to utilize the 8 weeks period to develop skills that would enable them to engage socially in the global digital market as well as create wealth.