… Beneficiaries speak

In a region long associated with unemployment, poverty and youth restiveness despite its vast oil wealth, a quiet transformation is taking place in communities across the Niger Delta. At the centre of that transformation is the Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation (EMT Foundation), a grassroots-driven organisation using vocational training, mentorship and financial empowerment to reshape the future.

Recently in Effurun, Delta State, 41 beneficiaries graduated from its Batch ‘C’ Skill Acquisition Programme under the EMT Foundation’s Niger Delta Youth Empowerment initiative.

But beyond the colourful ceremony, applause and distribution of certificates was a deeper story, one of economic survival, hope and community rebuilding in a region where many young people struggle daily with unemployment and limited opportunities.

The graduates were trained in practical and income-generating skills including fashion design, culinary arts, baking, salon services, makeup artistry and gele styling; sectors that require relatively low startup costs but possess strong local demand, making them attractive pathways for self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Takeoff capital

In a particularly unprecedented gesture, Founder, Mrs. Esther Matthew Tonlagha, announced a N1 million grant to each of the 41 graduates as takeoff capital to help them establish businesses.

Graduates also received starter packs and equipment including makeup kits, baking tools, generators, deep freezers and other resources. Tonlagha explained that the initiative was designed to restore confidence and independence to vulnerable persons and youths.

“This is not just a celebration of completion but recognition of courage, growth and transformation. Your dreams are valid and achievable,” she told the graduates.

According to her, empowerment is meaningful only when beneficiaries are equipped with the practical tools required to survive economically and positively impact their communities.

Sustainable Impact

EMT Foundation’s empowerment model, according to its sponsors, is designed to create lasting impact rather than temporary relief, determined to avoid the pitfall of merely ending with certificates and photographs. Programmes like EMT’s are becoming increasingly important as inflation, unemployment and rising living costs continue to put pressure on families across the country.

The National Bureau of Statistics paints a discouraging picture of high youth unemployment, particularly among young women. In oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta, the challenge is often compounded by environmental degradation, poor infrastructure and limited industrial opportunities.

Vocational empowerment initiatives remain vital tools for social stability and economic inclusion, and as Tonlagha stressed during the graduation ceremony, the true value of the programme would be measured by how beneficiaries apply their knowledge to build sustainable businesses, having become catalysts for wider community transformation.

This “multiplier effect” is especially important in regions like the Niger Delta where hardship fuels social tension, crime and youth vulnerability. Inclusion of life-saving skills within the programme also reflects a broader objective of strengthening community resilience.

Community Ownership, Partnership

Funded by Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, Tantita Security Services Nigeria limited and Chief Tare Godfrey Pondi, the Foundation has also drawn support and commendation from public officials, security agencies and community stakeholders.

Wife of the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs. Timiebi Akuna Guwor, underscored the importance of partnerships between government and private organisations in driving sustainable development.

“The government alone cannot achieve national development. Individuals and organisations must take responsibility. You are not just beneficiaries but partners in development,” she said, linking the initiative to the Delta State Government’s MORE Agenda, which focuses on meaningful development, opportunities for all, realistic reforms and enhanced peace and security.

According to her, skill acquisition programmes remain one of the most effective tools for tackling unemployment and reducing poverty among young people.

The ceremony also featured contributions from security officials and trainers who stressed the importance of discipline, mentorship and moral guidance.

The Divisional Police Officer of Ogborikoko Police Station, CSP Omosetemi Agbede-Zuokumor, used the occasion to call on parents to play more active roles in shaping the values of their children, warning about the dangers of uncontrolled exposure to harmful social media content and urging families to encourage hard work and vocational learning.

“We must catch them young and guide them on the right path to understand that hard work pays,” she said.

Restoring Dignity

For the graduates, the programme represented a turning point, with some participants revealing they had previously struggled with uncertainty before joining. Trainers likewise praised the discipline and commitment of participants throughout the training period.

“There was no negative report. They learned well and made us proud,” one facilitator noted.

For many young people in the Niger Delta, the Foundation’s empowerment programmes are also offering dignity and confidence. Agwanwor Dorin, a beneficiary, revealed the training will aid her in employment generation in her community.

She commended the EMT and the instructors for their commitment, saying, “This is life changing for me, we were given starter packs and everything was made available to us.

“I am going back to the society to affect lives positively. I will now add to the economic growth of my community”.

Also elated, Ebimienkumo Abigail said the EMTY Foundation has contributed to the economic development of not only the graduants but also their families and communities.

Ebimienkumo said, “We assure EMT that we will work hard and ensure that we create wealth in our communities and our state.”

The graduation event also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders, including representatives from vocational institutes and private organizations that supported the training. Such testimonials are becoming increasingly common. Batches A, B and C of the programme have already produced numerous empowered youths who are now contributing economically to their communities.

Officials say they remain committed to providing ongoing mentorship and support to beneficiaries, stressing that a long term approach may prove critical in determining whether the initiative can produce enduring economic transformation, especially as failed empowerment schemes have created public skepticism in the past.