The National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) said 600 female artisans across the six geo-political zones would be trained on various skills to reduce poverty and improve women empowerment.
The Director General, Ekpere-Eta, made this known on Wednesday on the sideline of the graduation ceremony of 200 female artisanship programme organised by the NCWD in Abuja.
According to her, more than 1,000 female under the centre’s artisanship skills development programme who had been trained are presently practicing their trade and performing well in the construction industry.
“It is our projection that in the course of active practice for a ten year period, a million female professionals employing at least 10 persons, will take out 10 million unemployed youths from the streets.
“This will help to drive social transformation in order to achieve poverty reduction through inclusive growth and sustainable development,’’ she said.
Ekpere-Eta, expressed optimism that the new set of 200 graduating female professional artisans would break barriers and excel well in the construction industry.
“In the course of implementing this programme, we have challenged stereotype, fought gender bias and broadened the perceptions of the participants to learn, develop and boldly utilise the acquired skills to improve their economic lives.’’
She noted that having certified the high level of knowledge during the training, the graduands would undergo Industrial attachment programme at various construction companies in the country to get firsthand experience.
Mr Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria said women economic empowerment was very critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), realising women’s rights and ensuring gender equality in Nigeria.
“This is especially important as we work to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic, embark on economic transformation and strive to build a resilient and inclusive societies,’’ he said.
He said training female artisans to work at the construction industry would change the narrative that certain jobs or skills were reserved only for the male gender.
“The 200 beneficiaries graduating today are a testament to the fact that women can do anything and there is no such thing as skills or work reserved for a certain gender,’’ he said.
Kallon, also stressed the need for gender-responsive budgeting and robust gender sensitive policies that mandate women’s equal and fair participation in society.
Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku commended NCWD for implementing programmes targeted at women empowerment.
Also, Chairman, House committee, Women Affairs and Social Development, Adewumi Onanuga said plans were underway to increase budgetary allocation for women empowerment and training.
Onanuga, therefore advised the graduands not to sell off their start-up pack and make judicious use of the seed grants to carry out their work effectively.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the female artisans were trained on plumbing, pipe fitting, plant, generator mechanics, tiling and masonry.
Others are refrigeration and air condition repairs, Plaster of Paris (POP), electrical fittings and wiring.
