Life- Skills and Economic Empowerment service continues to be a key event in the light of endemic poverty in the society. Poverty is accentuated by lack of skills for livelihood. Therefore, this activity provides an opportunity to build life skills for beneficiaries in order that they may enjoy other rights. Introduced in 1999, the programme has become a key poverty alleviation tool for poor families especially widows both young and old who have never had livelihood skills or means of Economic survival. Since introduced, we have trained over 600 families in life- skills. Four years ago, this annual activity was made national, drawing participants and potential trainers from the six geo-political zones of the country.
The activity is broken into components that include practical and theoretical aspects of cottage industry establishment and management. Modules include – small business management; book keeping; business opportunities within Nigeria’s industrial sector; raw materials procurement; training in selected cottage industry such as tye and dye, soap making, cosmetic, confectionery, hat making etc. Training also includes a lead talk on topics such as HIV-AIDS using the opportunity to build capacity in health education.
Each module is led by experienced facilitators from small and medium enterprises sector some of whom are former participants of HDI’s programmes who are living on skills gained from previous programmes. Others are drawn from government research institutions and the universities.
In order to complement the life -skills training, HDI established the Widows Trust Fund in 1999 to cater for the small capital requirements of poor families who want to establish cottage industry. Since establishment, the revolving trust fund has benefited over 200 widows.
Economic Empowerment Through the Provision of Income Generating Skills for Women and Adolescents
- Economic Empowerment through provisions of income generating skills is the most reliable, sustainable and efficient way of defending the rights of vulnerable groups. Against this background, HDI organized life skills/cottage industry training for women from Monday 26th to Friday 30th July 2010. HDI has over the years facilitated the Economic Empowerment of many of the women through this channel and has by so doing contributed to sustainable national development. The 2010 Life-Skill program was conducted for widows and non-widows in Lagos and Ogun State. The training was broad based and participatory. Participants were drawn from faith-based; community-based and widow partner groups that HDI works with. The 30 women who attended the programme represented the following groups: Oshodi-Isolo Widows’ Association, Mainland Widows’ Association, Bariga Widows’ Association, Itire-Ikate Widows’ Association, Somolu Widows’ Association, Chapel of Christ Our Light, Redeem Christian Church of God, Deeper Life Bible Ministry, William Memorial Anglican Church, Church of the Lord-Aladura, Yaba Baptist Church, Celestial Church of Christ, Foursquare Gospel Church, Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries, Christ Apostolic Church, Catholic Church, Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Anglican Church of Nigeria Widows’ Group and Methodist Church of Nigeria Widows’ Group. The training built the economic capacity of the less privileged women, enhanced their income-generating skills and empowered them to be self-reliant. The range of methods used during the training include; theory on business management skills, practical lessons, group work, as well as individual practical demonstration of skills taught, among others. The distribution of participants was; 30 Women, 1 Business Instructors, 3 Trainers, 3 Board members, and 2 HDI facilitators. The women were trained in different skills ranging from hat making, soap making (liquid & bar), bead making, stove wick production, bleach and disinfectant. All the participants had trainings on at least two skills and the overall assessment of the program showed that the life-skills training was very successful.
- Sequel to the 2010 life-skills training, HDI organized a full scale exhibition of the products made by women who attended the year’s Economic Empowerment program on August 17th 2010. The exhibition was aimed at bringing out the entrepreneurial drive in the women within a short time after their training by asking them to commence production immediately and bring their products for exhibition. During the exhibition, the women proudly showcased what they had produced – hats, beads, stove wick, liquid and bar soaps, (liquid & bar) bleach as well as disinfectant - and indicated to all present that what the average woman needs for success is little opportunities/empowerments at the appropriate time.
The exhibition program was tagged ‘HDI Widows’ Day’ to celebrate the widows who play cardinal roles in the society yet very neglected and made vulnerable. Informed by the findings of HDI’s numerous studies on widowhood, the organization considered it necessary to set aside a day to draw attention to the plight of widows and by so doing, galvanize support and mobilize action to address their deplorable conditions. The ‘Widows Day’ is thus an advocacy platform to stimulate stakeholders’ interest in activities that will promote the well being of widows. Stakeholders at the event were encouraged to promote the socio-economic empowerment of women, particularly widows, in order to give them, better hope for the future. The event had 98 participants in attendance. Some of those who attended the program were; representatives of Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Social Welfare, SOS, LGAs officials, executives of Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) and Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Media Practitioners and representatives of numerous CSOs and NGOs. It is noteworthy that the program received good coverage from both the print and electronic media.
Human Development Initiatives (HDI) in conjunction with Bariga Widows Association conducted two life-skills trainings for women at Bariga Local Development Area, Lagos State. The trainings took place at the Hall of the LGA secretariat in September 2008. The trainings focused on building the economic capacity of the less privileged women within the group, enhance their income-making skills and empower them to contribute substantially to sustainable national development. The skills learnt during the trainings were local insecticide and stove thread making which are in high demand within their immediate locality, which require minimal capital to establish and had been agreed upon during pre-programme consultations with the group.
The women beneficiaries were mobilized with the assistance of the LGA’s Agric and Rural Development Department and the Widows’ Association. The training on making of local insecticide was conducted for 61 women while the training for stove thread making was conducted for 63 women from the target group. The training methods include practical lessons, group work, as well as individual practical demonstration of skills taught, amongst others. Participants were also taken through lectures focusing on the processes of producing goods and services, products presentation, packaging, marketing and the need to procure quality materials in order to produce quality goods.
The training programmes were successful as participants indicated during the evaluation that all aspects of the trainings were useful and would assist them to engage in a business that generate income for the upkeep of their families. The training was conducted in the local languages of the women - Yoruba and Pidgin English - for easy understanding.
The success of the trainings notwithstanding, it was noted that future life skills trainings with the group can be improved upon by introducing other skills such as the making of disinfectants, medicated powder, toilet paper, candle making, hat, soap and bead making as well as hair & body cream.
These ideas formed the guiding points in the planning of the life skills/cottage industry training programme conducted later in 2009 that was held from Monday 8th to Friday 12th June 2009 for the first time at HDI premise as a result of the renovation of the office structure which created more spaces to accommodate larger number of participants than could be catered for before. The participants were drawn from faith based, community based and widow partner groups that HDI works with. The 28 women who attended the programme represented the following groups: Somolu Widows’ Association, Mainland Widows’ Association, Bariga Widows’ Association, Bariga Widows’ Association, Itire-Ikate Widows’ Association, Chapel of Christ Our Light, Foursquare Gospel Church, Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries, Yaba Baptist Church, Celestial Church of Christ, St. Dominic Catholic Church, Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Anglican Church of Nigeria Widows’ Group and Methodist Church of Nigeria Widows’ Group.
The 2009 life skills/cottage industry training witnessed by three media organizations – The Nation, The Punch and Alaroye - was declared open by the Chairperson of HDI Board of Trustees, Professor Sarah B.A. Oloko. The skills training sessions were preceded by simplified business management skills lectures comprising of requirements for setting up a cottage business, business financing, record/book keeping, product packaging, product marketing and strategies for business survival.
The skills learnt during the practical sessions were: beads making, hat making, soap production, stove wick and local insecticides.
The life skills training evaluation indicated that the trainees found every aspect of the trainings useful and saw it as real Economic Empowerment towards financial independence and alleviation of the sufferings of vulnerable people in Nigeria.
At the end of the 5-day training, the women did a mini exhibition during which they showcased the finished products from their trainings. The 28 participants were given samples of materials to continue practicing thereafter and were charged to come back at a later date for a full scale exhibition of what they had produced after their trainings.
As an off-shoot of the 2009 life skills training, HDI organized a full scale exhibition of the products made by the women who attended the year’s economic empowerment programme on July 1st 2009. The exhibition was aimed at bringing out the entrepreneurial drive in the women within a short time after their training by encouraging them to commence production immediately and bring their products for exhibition. During the exhibition, the women proudly showcased what they had produced – hats, beads, stove wick, liquid and bar soaps as well as insecticides - and indicated to all present that what the average woman needs for success is little opportunities at the appropriate time.
The day was also tagged ‘HDI Widows’ Day’ to celebrate the widows who play cardinal roles in the organisation’s work. Triggered by the findings of HDI’s numerous studies on widowhood, the organization considered it necessary to set aside a day to draw attention to the plight of widows and by so doing, galvanise support and mobilize action to address their deplorable conditions. The ‘Widows Day’ is thus an advocacy platform to stimulate stakeholders’ interest in activities that will promote the well being of widows. Stakeholders at the event were encouraged to promote the socio economic empowerment of women, particularly widows, in order to give them, better hope for the future. The Resource Persons provided the women with coping mechanisms following the loss of their spouses.
The twin event which had one hundred and twenty participants was graced by the Chairperson, HDI Board of Trustees, representatives of Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation (a person each from the Commissioner and Permanent Secretary), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), United Bank for Africa, Chevron Nigeria Plc as well as executives of Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) and Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN).
The event received good coverage from both the print and electronic media. It was aired on NTA News Line of Sunday June 5th 2009 and published in the Daily Champion Newspaper - Thursday 9th July 2009, Daily Sun Newspaper – Wednesday July 15th 2009, Alaroye – Monday 21st July 2009 and The Nation Newspaper – 9th August 2009.
Survey on HDI Life Skills Trainings Beneficiaries:
In August 2009, HDI conducted a small survey on its 10 year old life skills training programmes. The survey was meant as a follow up on the women beneficiaries of the trainings to find out how they had benefited from the skills they acquired from the training over time and to find out the challenges they were facing (if any) that could hinder the effective utilization of the knowledge gained. The report of the training is expected to be published and disseminated to relevant stakeholders as soon as possible.
