A Non-Governmental Organisation in Kwara State, Threshold of Hope Foundation, has empowered more than 70 less privileged in the area with vocational skills.
The beneficiaries of the scheme were empowered with sewing machines, pepper grinder and cash to start up their various businesses.
Speaking at the empowerment programme, founder of the organisation and daughter of the business mogul, Damilola Yusuf, said the NGO, which is an arm of a metallurgical company, KAM-Holding-Limited, Ilorin, is committed to reducing poverty by empowering people with vocational skills to be self-reliant.
She said the aim of the foundation was not just to give out money to people but to empower them and make them self sufficient in order to be a respected member of the society.
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The founder also said the foundation is also trying to organize classes where youths, orphans and the vulnerable children would be enrolled for vocational training for eight weeks, adding that participants would be empowered with working tools to kick start their business afterwards.
Miss Yusuf added that the foundation had concluded plans to carry out health care outreach where free treatment would be given to people during hospital visitation and also help people who could not pay their hospital bills.
One of the beneficiaries, Rachael Daniel, who is a student of Kwara State College of Education Ilorin, appreciated the foundation for giving her the tool to start up her sewing business which she had been unable to do due to financial challenges.
She, however, used the opportunity to advise other students and youth in the state to be self-dependent by equipping themselves with a vocational skill which will enable them to contribute their quota to the development of the state and the nation as a whole.
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