BPW equips girls with skills in Ondo
Business and Professional Women Nigeria (BPW) has equipped young girls in Ondo with practical skills, instilling virtues and preparing them for a self-sufficient future.
The training took place on Thursday, 21 and Friday 22, November 2024, at St. Peter’s Unity Secondary School, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Speaking at the event, the National President of BPW Nigeria, Adejoke Afolabi, explained that the initiative was designed to instil virtues and practical skills in young girls, equipping them for independence and success.
Afolabi elaborated that the training aimed to nurture a mindset of responsibility and independence, teaching the participants how to navigate life effectively while maximising their potential.
“We want to teach them how to communicate, behave in society, navigate life responsibly, and become good, responsible individuals. Our goal is to inspire them to excel in their studies and cultivate strong ambitions, whether as professionals or businesswomen,” she said.
Afolabi further noted that the program is part of BPW Nigeria’s nationwide initiative, active in cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Owerri.
The Project Director of BPW Akure Club, Olabisi Omolona, stressed the importance of combining education with practical skills.
“Education without skills is incomplete. We believe education, paired with skills, creates well-rounded individuals. To ensure these girls can thrive in today’s society, they must be empowered with practical abilities and that’s our focus,” she explained.
“It’s not just about skills; we’re also teaching etiquette, morals, values, and public speaking.
Our aim is to uncover the potential within these children so they can grow into confident, self-reliant adults,” she added.
Omolona encouraged the students to remain focused on their goals to achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.
The resource person, Oluwayemisi Ojuloge, a chartered accountant and professional hat maker, provided training on hat-making.
Ojuloge expressed her joy in engaging with the young participants, urging them to embrace the skills they were learning.
Reacting, the Principal of St. Peter’s Unity Secondary School, Mrs. Okunrinboye Stella Omowumi, who was presented with a hat produced by the students, described the programme as a very good initiative targeting entrepreneurship, which will assist the students in becoming self-reliant rather than hunting for collar jobs.
Similoluwa Adegbonmire, a participant and SS1 student, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and encouraged her peers to remain focused and make the most of the training.
