Firms empower 50 youths with skill acquisition project

The Elevate Development Foundation (EDF), a youth driven not-for-profit organisation has partnered The Ark Altruist Foundation (TAAF), to train 50 youths in different skills.

The three weeks project, which took place at Adogbo one community, Makoko, in Lagos State, was aimed at empowering the youths, most of whom are uneducated, by introducing them to an alternative source of income and assisting them in setting up their businesses. 

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the 19 years old Founder, EDF, Miss Abiola Adebiyi, said the project was aimed at providing solutions to underserved communities like Makoko.

Her words: “I founded EDF in May 2016 to elevate the youths basically. We came in here to do long-term projects; something that will instigate a permanent change and create a multiplier effect that would eventually translate from changing their mentalities, to the building of their lifestyle.

“We focus mainly on the youths, children and women. We had an initial interview where we called the youths, we interviewed them, and tried to train them in skills that will be relevant to them. We trained them in catering, wig making, shoe and bag production, Ankara craft and fashion designing among others.”

Adebiyi stated that EDF partnered with TAAF because they share similar vision of training and empowering people.

In his remarks, the Founder, TAAF, Mustafa Abisola Noah, who is 21 years old, noted that the organisations have mapped out plans to follow up with some of the trainees who have brilliant ideas and help give them better plans to excel in their skills. 

He said: “We got to familiarize ourselves with some of the trainees who gave us their business plans, and we are going to help them establish them. We have our mentorship team who will do the follow up. 

“After this programme, we will come around to check how they are doing in their businesses and see how we can help them in one way or another.”