A group of teen mothers who recently completed vocational training at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State have expressed their gratitude to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for sponsoring the program and providing them with skills acquisition and starter packs.
At a ceremony held at the institute on Tuesday, the young ladies described how the NCDMB’s intervention had transformed their lives from one of hopelessness and despair to optimism and enthusiasm.
“Thank you, NCDMB, for giving meaning to our lives,” their spokespersons declared, adding that the social stigma associated with their material circumstances before the training has been taken away.
They promised to make the best use of the training and starter packs they have received and not only to be self-reliant but to be useful to their respective families and society.
The teen mothers, who received training in catering, confectionaries, fashion design, and hair dressing, all received certificates and now have the skills necessary to thrive in the oil and gas industry.
The importance of hospitality to this sector, as emphasized by NCDMB’s Deputy Manager of Human Capital Development, Mr. Augustine Timbiri, cannot be understated.
“The importance of hospitality to the oil and gas sector,” he emphasised, “is undeniable.” Mr. Timbiri also emphasized the importance of acquiring skills over simply obtaining certificates, citing examples from companies like Google which often prioritize skills over degrees in job placements.
He encouraged the teen mothers to continue building upon the skills they have acquired and to work in teams in order to succeed.
“No training gives you everything you need. You have to build on what you have acquired here,” Mr. Timbiri said. “Character is very important [in service] and you need to work in teams to get things done.”
The NCDMB’s collaboration with the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality and organizations like Stand Up for Women Society and the National Youth Service Corps Legal Aid Group has allowed for the successful training of these 20 teen mothers.
The Rector of the institute, Professor Apuega Arikawei, thanked the NCDMB for their sponsorship and encouraged them to expand the scope of their training programs in order to provide even more citizens with the opportunity to acquire useful skills and become self-employed.
“You have been empowered today to become entrepreneurs,” Professor Arikawei told the teen mothers. “Expand the scope of the training,” he pleaded to the NCDMB, “so as to create opportunities for more citizens to acquire useful skills and be productively self-employed.”
The Deputy Manager of the NCDMB, Mr. Timbiri, expressed satisfaction and joy that the 20 trainees who began the program some six months ago have all been focused on their training and now possess the requisite skills, certificates, and a bright future ahead.
He thanked the Management of the institution, stating that “We have been collaborating with the Institute to deliver on capacity building and empowerment,” and assured that “We shall continue to work together.”
The NCDMB’s efforts to empower and provide skills acquisition to these teen mothers have been successful and have helped to replace feelings of hopelessness with optimism and enthusiasm for life.
The organization will continue to work with institutions like the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality to provide more citizens with the opportunity to acquire useful skills and become self-employed.
