By Juliet Ebirim

Against the backdrop of dwindling economic fortunes in the country, Mrs. Susan Itemuagbor a Lagos business woman has identified building and expanding economic stability among young girls and women through training in special skills as apt and needful. She made this known when she launched a free skills acquisition programme tagged: ‘Educate, Empower and Engage’, a scheme aimed at giving a boost to the economic fortunes of indigent women.

The programme which aims to educate, engage and empower young girls to avail themselves of the health and beauty industry as a means to better their lives and become economically self-sufficient, is also committed to being part of a workable solution to the problem of unemployment facing many young girls in the society today.

Mrs. Itemuagbor urged guests present and well-meaning Nigerians to contribute towards making the project a success by sponsoring girls to attend the training programme.

“Girls shoulder the burden of their family’s poverty. 60 percent of the world’s poor are women and girls. Their poverty level is worse than that of men as clear gender disparities in education, employment opportunities and decision-making power exist. “

The empowerment programme aims to train 100 young girls and women in life skills, weight management and make-up artistry from a variety of communities quarterly. The total fee for one girl to attend the training programme is N150,000 which covers all her training tools/materials and certificate.

She stated that the idea behind the free skills acquisition scheme was hinged on using economic empowerment to break the cycle of poverty, reduce crime and improve health and well-being. She promised her commitment to ensuring the beneficiaries not only complete their trainings, but get start-up equipment to enable them generate income from what they are trained in, to live happy and meaningful lives where they can contribute to the socio-economic growth of the state.