Group lauds MTN Foundation skills empowerments programme

A non-governmental organization, Friends of The Disabled (FOTD) Vocational and Educational Centre has commended the MTN Foundation for empowering 96 youths with disabilities in the past four years to establish their own businesses.
So far, people with disabilities have been trained in different skills of shoemaking, sewing, catering, fish farming, among others.
Speaking recently during the graduation ceremony at the Oja-Oba Vocational Centres Lagos Island, the Executive Director /Founder of FOTD, Mrs. Christy Orduh, said: “FOTD was established to develop the talents of youths with disabilities in order to make them valued and useful adults in the society. We appreciate MTN foundation for taking the bold steps to train about 96 of our students here in four years.”
According to her, the beneficiaries have conquered the challenges of depending on others and of being idle through the skill you have learnt.
“You have gotten enough training and advices that can make you establish your own business. We are here for consultations and activities that rehabilitate you. Two of you have been consulted as instructors, and one other as sign language teacher. Let us know where you are and how you are adjusting to the society.
“FOTD also remain grateful to National Directorate of Employment (NDE), which gave the organisation the first start-up equipment and tools and have collaborated with us to date.
“We thank Lagos Island Local Government for their support, SNEPCO, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Individual Partners, UBEC, Women Affairs, Sage Foundation Nigeria, Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Main Research, Victoria Island, small world Nigeria and other sponsors,” she said. She explained that the focus of the centre now is not only empowerment but also rehabilitation with jobs that can fetch them income with what they have learned.
“Two of our ex-students have recently been rehabilitated. One is into continuing education here and features as a tailor too while the other works with a bone craft centre for income generation,” she added