Kids & Teens Resource Centre (K&TRC), Benue State Chapter, has graduated 24 young entrepreneurs after completing a four-week practical Skills Acquisition Training Programme aimed at equipping children and adolescents with entrepreneurial, creative and livelihood skills. The ceremony was held on Saturday at the Health Information Center, Nyiman Layout, Makurdi, and was attended by parents, guardians, community members, facilitators, volunteers and representatives of civil society organisations.
The initiative is part of K&TRC’s commitment to empowering young people with practical skills that promote creativity, confidence, self-reliance and decent livelihood opportunities. The organisation emphasised that children should not only depend on their parents but should be equipped early with competencies that enable them to create value, contribute to their families and communities, and prepare for productive adulthood.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of K&TRC, Martin-Mary Falana, appreciated parents, facilitators, volunteers and supporters for making the training successful. He stressed the need to invest in young people beyond conventional academics, noting that children must also have opportunities to discover their talents, develop practical competencies, and cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset required to navigate the future.
Giving an overview of the programme, the Programme Officer, Ms. Dooshima Nomigo, said the 24 participants underwent four weeks of hands-on learning. The Skills Acquisition Officer, Miss Torkwase Awua, listed the skills covered to include bead making, fascinator making, beaded hair ribbon production, hand wash production and disinfectant production. She commended the children for their commitment and encouraged them to keep practising and improving.
The children shared their experiences and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn in a creative and supportive environment. Goodwill messages from stakeholders further underscored the importance of the initiative. The Community traditional leader, Chief Yimanga Orban, honoured the event with his presence, demonstrating the role of traditional leadership in supporting child development.
Other stakeholders also lent their voices. Mrs. Esther Abba, Benue State Coordinator of ASWHAN, urged K&TRC to sustain and expand the programme. Mrs. Antonia Oladapo of PHMI called for the initiative to be extended to other communities in Makurdi such as North Bank, High Level and Wadata. Mr. Jen Thomas of Positive Vibes Initiative encouraged the children to keep practising, while Mr. Isah Labaran Galadima of the International Commission for Migrants, Refugees and IDPs expressed satisfaction with the organisation and promised to share the experience with his office.
To mark the graduation, certificates and gifts were presented to all 24 participants. In recognition of exceptional commitment, three outstanding participants were given empowerment kits to support them in applying their skills and beginning small-scale production. This, K&TRC said, reflects its commitment to moving beyond training by creating practical opportunities for young people.
Parents and guardians expressed appreciation to K&TRC for the opportunity given to their children. The joy and pride displayed by the graduands reflected a strong sense of accomplishment and highlighted the potential of collaborative, community-based initiatives to advance youth development.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Mercy Ede congratulated the children and urged them to continue practising the skills they had acquired. She also thanked parents, guests, facilitators and volunteers for their contributions to the success of the programme.
K&TRC used the occasion to call on government agencies, development partners, private sector organisations, philanthropists and community leaders to increase investment in practical skills development for children. The organisation noted that sustained support in the form of training materials, equipment, starter kits, mentorship and funding is needed to expand the programme to more communities, especially underserved areas. It stressed that young people should be equipped not just to seek jobs, but to create opportunities for themselves and others.
