NGO trains, empowers 21 teenage girls, vows to reduce poverty in Cross River Community

By Ene Ene, Calabar

A non-governmental organization known as Girls Leading Africa, GLA, at the weekend said it has completed the training of 21 girls, to reduce unemployment and poverty in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State.

The organization revealed its effort to accelerate the development of communities by providing girls and young mothers access to employable trades in the state.

The Organizers of the program said that it was a deliberate way of giving back to the community and to help young girls affected by social ills gain vocational training, confidence in financial management and long-term sustainable solutions to increase their economic opportunities and reduce unemployment and poverty in the state.

The GLA Board Member, Oluwafunmilola Ojo who spoke to newsmen at the graduation ceremony of the teenage girls, said that most girls in rural areas are deprived of empowerment. 

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the benefiticaries were trained on three main basic skills; computer operation, pastry making and tailoring for 12 months.

In a valedictory speech delivered by one of the Graduands, Eme Okon noted that this year’s theme “Roots and Wings: Empowering Young Women in Rural Communities to soar” reflects their journey as Girls Leading Africa.

She commended all GLA facilitators and staff for their tireless efforts and expressed her appreciation to the sponsor and the Board of Trustees for the kind gesture.

On her part, Admin Finance Officer, GLA, 

Nkoyo Effiong said: “We have gotten the necessary support that we need from the rural dweller, especially from the Head of Okoyong community, the Kabenta, this is his premises he voluntarily gave it out for us to use.

One of the best graduating students (Tailoring School), Elizabeth Asuquo, expressed appreciation to the NGO for the gesture, and pledged to make judicious use of both the training and the equipments given to her.