By John Odunjo
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has trained 400 indigent persons in Ekiti State in vocations and empowered them with start-up kits as part of efforts to reduce poverty in the country.
The 400 beneficiaries in Ekiti State are among the 800 trainees (in Lagos and Ekiti states) of the programme with the theme, “Building sustainable livelihoods in vibrant community project”, who were trained by the Caritas Nigeria, a non-profit organisation established by the Catholic bishops’ conference.
The Ekiti beneficiaries smiled home on the graduation day as each of them was handed start-up kits for the various crafts and vocations learned alongside certificate during the graduation ceremony which held at Pope John Paul Pastoral Centre in Ado Ekiti.
The vocations included tailoring, confectioneries, shoe/bag making, bead making, carpentry, phone repairs, aluminum works, electrical, auto mechanic and catering works.
The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, who said it was worrisome that poverty was ravaging the country despite vast endowments, said, “Government at all levels should put in place deliberate measures to ensure that Nigerians live lives of dignity.”
The bishop, represented by the Vicar-General of the Diocese, Rev. Fr Felix Odesanmi, urged groups and individuals making efforts to eradicate poverty in the country not to relent, as he lauded Caritas Nigeria for the gesture to empower the needy and vulnerable and as well other interventions for humanity.
The Deputy Executive Secretary, Caritas Nigeria, Rev. Fr Babangida Audu, who corroborated the bishop, urged governments and citizens to work together and play their roles to ensure eradication of poverty in the country.
The cleric said, “If we want to eradicate poverty in Nigeria, we can do it, but our government and citizens must mean it. Government should be able to provide an enabling environment, where people can be able to help themselves and create an environment where people can learn skills. Citizens should be willing to take up their responsibilities”.
The Director of Humanitarian Service, Caritas Nigeria, Nkese Udongwo, said the target was to train the vulnerable in life skills for them to generate income for themselves and the community.
Udongwo, who said Caritas was working to eliminate poverty, urged the beneficiaries to make use of the skills acquired and start-up kits received to better their lives and as well let others benefit from them.
The Chairman, Ado Ekiti Local Government, Bosun Osaloni, who lauded Caritas Nigeria for the gesture, which he described as an opportunity for the beneficiaries to get out of poverty, cautioned them against selling the start-up kits provided for them.
