3 months ago
18 ARTICLE AD
The Catholic Bishops Conference on Nigeria has harped on the need for skills acquisition for self-dependence to earn a living as part of efforts to reduce poverty in the country.
The bishops, through their non-governmental organisation, Caritas Nigeria, spoke at Orun Ekiti in the Ise Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Tuesday during the graduation ceremony and presentation of kits to 350 persons trained in different vocations including cosmetology, barbing, hairdressing, tailoring, and catering, phone repair and carpentry.
Caritas had on Monday, a day earlier, presented kits to another set of 350 graduate trainees at Iluomoba Ekiti in the Gbonyin Local Government area of the state.
The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, urged that people should look inward about what could be done to make a living rather than sitting idle, seeking non-existent white-collar jobs and complaining about bad leaders and poor governance.
The bishop, represented by a Catholic priest, Rev Father Francis Alade, said, “This is not a palliative. What Caritas has given the graduate trainees is to aid them. It is part of efforts to reduce poverty in society.
“Many are jobless in our society today and people are complaining about bad government and bad leaders, but they don’t think of what they can do for themselves. The government cannot do everything, so in our little ways, we should look into ourselves what we can do on our own. If help comes, then it will be a plus.”
Ajakaye, who advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of the skills acquired and equipment given to them to better their lives, also encouraged them to train other people they could train to make society a better place.
The Senior Advisor on Humanitarian Services, Caritas Nigeria, Friday Alhassan, said that the group, under the project tagged “Building Sustainable Livelihood in Vibrant Communities” was out to invest in the future of individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole.
