THE Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) recently organized a two-day training for 500 women in craft/entrepreneurship in Edo State.
The workshop at Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, St Paul Catholic Church, off Airport Road, Benin City, was part of efforts by the Federal Government to reduce poverty through women empowerment.
The facilitators were Mrs Roli Nova Agbajor of the Department of Business Administration, University of Benin, Mrs Abiola Deisy, Ms Faith and Inerdia Elizabeth.
The occasion chair, Martins Osakue, thanked the Director General of CBAAC and Chairman of the House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihma, for holding the event in Edo South.
He noted that the training would enable the women to build capacity for innovation, self-sustainability and employers of labour.
The Deputy Director of Research and Publications of CBAAC, Mr Adesegun Dosumu, who represented the Director General, Hon Oluwabunmi Amao, expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of participants.
The DG explained that the programme was because of women’s crucial societal roles. She said, “As societies grow due to globalization and economic liberalization, it becomes very compelling for women to undergo training to innovate to meet the current and more complex challenges of managing the home front in the 21st century.
Also, the Chairman House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon Omoregie Ogbeide – Ihama, thanked CBAAC for organizing the programme. He said it affirmed the Federal Government’s efforts at reducing poverty and unemployment.
The lawmaker encouraged participants to take the training very seriously because it can take them from their present economic state.
He promised that the House of Representatives would continue to assist CBAAC through policy directives and oversight functions that would enable it to achieve its statutory mandate.
Mrs Roli Nova Agbajor, who delivered a lecture on craft and entrepreneurship, said to be an entrepreneur, one must have an idea of what one wants to do. That is, conceptualize a business plan; capital; location; managerial skill; the kind of products/ services the person wants to render, the target market, etc.
She explained that beads making, hair-braiding and tie & dye required little start-up capital, but that skill acquisition is the most important thing.
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