INTELS targets more beneficiaries of empowerment scheme in 2018

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, INTELS Nigeria Limited Women Empowerment Programme Scheme Synergy (WEPSS) targets to empower from 200 to 250 women this year.

Already, about 200 women had graduated from the WEPSS scheme instituted by the oil and gas logistics giant, INTELS, in 2017. About 100 of the women completed a 20-week training in June, while another 100 completed in December.

The graduates went through intensive trainings in fashion design and tailoring under the tutelage of world-class professionals.

The Director of INTELS Nigeria Limited, Silvano Bellinato, said the company established WEPSS in 2013 as a CSR initiative, with the vision of empowering 5,000 community women over a 20-year period through training in fashion design and tailoring.

He said INTELS acquired and made available over 300 sewing and specialised machines, and built a 5000-square metres garment manufacturing factory at the Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne for the purpose of the training.

He said some of the women who previously graduated from the programme had become gainfully employed at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, as manufacturers of coveralls and personal protective equipment (PPE) for companies in the zone.

He said: “WEPSS is run by a team of highly skilled indigenous manpower. It has so far produced over 50,000 garments within its manufacturing infrastructure. These apparels include shirts, T-shirts, skirts, trousers, jackets, uniforms and coveralls.