Cross River govt to partner MFM on skills acquisition

Cross River State Government has expressed interest in partnering with the Mountain and Fire and Miracle Ministry (MFM) in its pursuit of ways to build confidence among youths and make them financially independent through skills acquisition programmes.

Tribune Online gathered that MFM, Youth Church Calabar initiated the youths’ free skills acquisition 8 years ago during the long holiday period in 2015 and 512 youths were trained in different skills. Since then, it became an annual event except for 2020 when COVID-19 set in and paused the programme but it continued afterwards.

This year’s programme which just concluded commenced on 7th August and participants were trained in the following skills: baking and catering services, leatherworks, cosmetology, cinematography, fascinators, food and drinks, and online digital opportunity.

The Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Rev Eyoanwan Otu, was represented by the Special Adviser to the wife of the governor on Event and Planning, Dr Inyang Asibon, in his remarks during the 2023 graduation ceremony of 310 graduands from different skills, noted that “the young people are very dear to Her Excellency because they’re vulnerable.”

She disclosed that “Her Excellency through her NGO, ‘Humanity Without Borders’, will partner with MFM in next year’s skill acquisitions programme to increase the number of trainees to 1,000 and to create other areas of interest to participants like driving, catering, poultry business, phone repairs, interior decorations and paint production.

She said, “it’s really beautiful that it is not only members of MFM that are beneficiaries of this programme. The wife of the governor was already working on this kind of project to take place in 18 LGAs of the state, but seeing what has played out here today, she’s willing to partner with MFM. By 2024 we should graduate double or triple the number we are graduating today.

“The young people are the future of tomorrow and we are trying to make them financially independent so that they don’t indulge in social vices.”

On his part, Pastor Michael Ikone, South-South Region II Mega Overseer of the church, noted that “all this while, the programme has been put together through the church resources and donations from people who support the vision.

“If the youths are well empowered through the church, they can go to the marketplace and change the world because it’s not enough to just pray and preach. More than 3,450 youths have been trained so far bit by bit,” he stated.

Participants in the programme expressed their joy as they danced and rejoiced for the free one-month skills training given to them by the church.

One of the participants, Charity Titilayo, who was trained in fascinator making mentioned that the lowest price of fascinator in the market is 3500 naira, noting that with the skills she has acquired, she can earn a living.

 

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