By Franklin Alli

Awka-based Mike Susan Foundation MSF, has concluded arrangement to commence skills acquisition and scholarship programmes for people in the state.

Speaking during the end year healthcare and charity outreach programme held at Amawbia, Anambra State, Mrs. Gloria Odumodu, the managing director of the Foundation, said “ The time has come for the foundation to impact more incisively on the people and community so that the needy can begin to take care of themselves the more.

“The Skills Acquisition programme will start with few beneficiaries. Every great thing started small. We have to learn as the project progresses. We start off in the New Year with Aluminium Fabrication and fashion designing. The first is for boys while the other is for girls. Aluminium fabrication is a new industry. Our people can go into it now and share in the potentials.”

According to her, applicants are to apply online at www: mikesusanfoundation.org and giving their basic personal data. “No skill is lowly or incapable of making a person rich or better able to meet the needs. The important determinants for success in any endeavour are focus and discipline. The world market is open to anyone who works hard to be the best in his or her chosen field.  Be it fashion, body care including massaging, people are travelling distances to get satisfaction. Today, people are looking on the world scene, trying to bring their products to that market,” she said.

The Managing director said the foundation would liaise with the best practitioners in the respective industries to screen applicants, and draw the training programme. MSF will ensure that the selection process is above board, and will pay the cost of training and support the successful candidates at the end of the training in order for them to start off in life.

Stressing on Scholarship scheme, she disclosed that it will take off in the 2015/2016 academic year.

According to her, the scheme is open to medical/pharmacy students of Awka indigene admitted to state and Federal institutions.

The chairman of the occasion, Professor Eliezer Offodile noted that Awka has a history of art and craftsmanship so that the skills acquisition projects fit into the way of life and the artistic talents.

The Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye, also pleaded that the board of MSF includes art and crafts in the skills acquisition programme, noting that there are lots of unemployed and untrained youth looking for something worthwhile to do with their lives.

Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, stated that he expects his kinsmen, especially the youth, to take the skills acquisition programme seriously and take whatever knowledge they garner to higher level that bear on superior goods and services.

“The MSF Skills Acquisition project is not just to help people get training, our dream is to culture beneficiaries to think of the world, think of others and how to make a difference in life generally,” he said.