AWACIO

During the six weeks training, the trainees were trained in financial management, and were provided with health, safety, and Environment (HSE) policy training of which documents were given to them to sign. During the financial management training, the financial trainer taught the trainees the process of opening a bank account. Those who had no bank accounts opened accounts with Zenith Bank PLC Nigeria. They were also taught how to form “cooperatives” in business. It is expected that those who qualify for monetary award will receive funds in their accounts within a year. The trainees were advised that there will be on going monitoring of their progress to ensure that they are adding financial value to the economic growth in their communities.
The graduation ceremony was performed on Thursday, November 29, 2018. There were series of preparations for the graduation. The event took place at the Paikon -Kore Community Primary School’s open field. Canopy, tables, and chairs were set up and well decorated. The decoration was done by the trainees that were trained on Pastry and Decoration. The trainees all wore white t-shirts and caps and were seated in canopies according to their skills. The Etsus and Chiefs present were seated in the canopy reserved for guests and VIPs. The Starter packs to be distributed to graduating trainees were lined up in one section, and the two generators for raffle drawing were placed alongside the starter packs. The event officially started at noon following the arrival of CBN officials.
Thus, present and well seated, prior to graduation commencement, were the Etsu of Paikon-Kore, Etsu of Passo, and the Etsu of Dobi Communities. Also, present were Chiefs from Paikon -Kore, Passo, and Dobi, CBN officials, AWACIO staff, and trainers, trainees, invited guests, and members of the communities. The ceremony started with the national Anthem, and prayer by Mr. Solomon Akuboh. Then, the important dignitaries were introduced as well as exchange of pleasantries. Dr. Claudia Okeke, the CEO of AWACIO gave her welcoming speech in which she stated that the training started initially with two hundred (200) registrant and after six weeks ended up with seventy-four (74) trainees. She explained that the first sixty of the candidates will receive starter packs and certificates while the next fourteen devised as “standbys or substitutes” will only receive certificates. In her speech, she encouraged the graduating trainees to make use of their skills to make money and reduce the poverty levels of their communities. She added that one trainee can in turn train five to ten others and increase the socio-economic level of their environment. She also informed them that AWACIO was not done with them. She notified them that AWACIO will continue an on-going monitoring of their skill activities and success for at least one year.
Following her speech, the CBN official, Mrs. Victoria Amaegbo from the CSR group in the Governor’s Department, read the speech on behalf of the Director, Governor’s Department of CBN. She stated that CBN has a mandate to generate employment, create wealth, and eradicate poverty, and as such, has partnered with AWACIO through the CBN’s “Touching Lives Initiatives”. The reality of this vision clarified the sponsorship of this program through AWACIO. She stated that AWACIO has delivered their message to the Communities covered in the program. She stated that the skills identified has billeted sixty (60) individuals from these communities to graduate and earn starter packs such as sewing machines, hair dryers, ovens, phone repair gadgets, tile laying devices, and soap making containers. She advised the beneficiaries of this program to utilize the knowledge and skill gained to improve their lives and impact their communities positively. She thanked AWACIO for a job well done, and urged AWACIO to continually monitor the progress of the beneficiaries to ensure the program achieves the main aim which is to positively impact on individuals, the community, and the nation.
Immediately following her speech, awards and certificates were presented to the graduating trainees, and then to their trainers. After the presentation of awards, there were raffle drawings to give out two generators. The winners of the raffle drawings were: Hassan Tanko, a trainee in the phone repair skill who very much wanted a generator to start his phone repair skill. The other Mr. Abdul Bala Seriki, an invited guest, who is a school teacher at the Paikon-kore Community primary school. They were verified by their phone numbers. The Etsu of Paikon-Kore gave his vote of thanks. In his speech, he appreciated and recognized the sponsorship of CBN and the efforts by AWACIO in making sure it happened in his community. He urged CBN to come back and do more training.
The CBN officials and VIP guest worked around the skill crafts display tables to view some of the products made by the trainees and congratulate them. Following this, group photographs were taken