The Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF) and the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Wuye Women Foundation seeking for increased vocational training for women as empowerment measure.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 2026 SHE CREATES Vocational Skills Training Programme, organised in partnership with the MFM Wuye Women Foundation in Abuja, the Executive Director of Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF), Mrs Rosemary Osikoya called for increased support for vocational skills training centres to help women become economically independent and build sustainable livelihoods
Osikoya charged that governments, private organisations and individuals should invest in skills acquisition initiatives by providing equipment, training facilities and other resources to enable beneficiaries to turn their newly acquired skills into viable businesses.
The Executive Director explained that the initiative was designed to equip women with practical, marketable skills that could improve their livelihoods, support their families and contribute to community development.
She stated that the initiative attracted more than 500 women who expressed interest in various vocational trades, while the pilot phase focused on garment making and baking.
Osikoya further explained that the training was supported through contributions from both organisations, individuals and volunteers, without direct government funding.
She disclosed that Ladi Memorial Foundation provided 28 manual sewing machines and relevant tools for garment-making training, while five additional sewing machines were donated to support the MFM Skills Centre.
The Executive Director urged governments to establish a system that rewards people who successfully complete vocational training with equipment and other resources needed to start businesses.
She also encouraged religious organisations to convert available spaces within their facilities into vocational training centres, stressing that skills acquisition should complement formal education in tackling poverty.
Osikoya appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to donate sewing machines, baking equipment and other vocational tools to training centres rather than concentrating support solely on other charitable causes.
She, however, acknowledged that funding constraints remained a challenge, explaining that the foundation depended largely on donations and partnerships to sustain its programmes.
The Executive Director further encouraged the graduating women to practice their skills, explore business opportunities and share their knowledge with others to promote economic empowerment within their communities.
She added that interested graduates would receive support through preparatory training for the NABTEB Modular Trade Certification examinations and the National Board for Technical Education’s National Skills Qualification certifications.
Also speaking at the event , a pastor with MFM and head of implementation, Pastor Mary Aboderin, described the initiative as a significant step towards improving women’s economic independence.
She said vocational training could enable women to establish businesses, earn income and contribute more effectively to their households.
Aboderin commended Osikoya for her commitment to the programme and expressed hope that the initiative would be sustained and expanded to reach more women.
She also urged other religious organisations to emulate the partnership by creating opportunities for practical skills development and community empowerment.
Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Abigail Mpelai, said the training had equipped her with garment-making skills, including the production of blouses, gowns and skirts.
Mpelai explained that although the programme was initially expected to last eight weeks, it continued for six months, giving participants more time to develop their abilities.
She said the training provided an opportunity to pursue a long-held ambition of becoming a garment maker and expressed appreciation to the organisers for making it possible.
Another beneficiary, Esther Abbe, said the programme had improved her knowledge of tailoring and expressed her intention to establish her own fashion outfit.
A participant, Dr Christiana Ibrahim, said she hoped to use the skills acquired to train other women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to enable them to become self-reliant.
The SHE CREATES initiative seeks to equip women with practical skills, encourage entrepreneurship and create pathways to sustainable livelihoods through collaboration between organisations and community-based support systems.