Canadian NGO trains rural women, youths in Cross River

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), CUSO International, funded by the Canadian government has trained 3,818 women and young people in skill acquisition, entrepreneurial capacity building and greener economy in Cross River State.

At a workshop organised for heads of local government administration and other decision makers at the headquarters of Calabar Municipality, the organisation also said no fewer than 65 staff  members of different ministries, departments and agencies of the state were recently trained within the latter part of last year and now.

The Programme Manager, Policy and Natural Resource Management of YouLead, Godwin Ugah, said the NGO also established 600 small businesses for young people, including women, thereby reducing unemployment and making youths to abstain from restiveness.

Ugah said the body had conducted capacity assessment in 17 local government areas of the state and identified possible areas of further training and business development, especially with a view to driving the green economy concept.

“Talking about green economy, we target the natural resources sector, including agriculture, forestry, aquaculture (fish) and ecotourism. We select young persons and train them on their core specialty and entrepreneurial choices,” he explained.

He said they hoped to achieve enhanced sustainable growth and prosperity for women, men and children in the local government areas.

One of the participants, Mr Bassey Effiom, from Akamkpa Local Government Area, said with the training,the state would have a better place, especially if the green concept economy is embraced by the people.