MTN Foundation was praised by Friends of the Disabled (FOTD) Vocational and Educational Center, on empowering 96 youths with disability in the past four years to establish their own businesses. The center trains people with disabilities in different skills which include shoe making, sewing, catering, fish farming, among others.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of skilled and empowered youths with disabilities, at the Oja-Oba Vocational Centers Lagos Island, Mrs Christy Orduh-ED/Founder Friends of the Disables (FOTD) said, “FOTD was established to develop the talents of youths with disabilities in order to make them valued and useful adults in the society. We appreciate MTN foundation who took the bold steps to train about 96 of our students here in four years.”
According to her, “The beneficiaries have conquered the challenges of depending on others and of being idle through the skill you have learnt. You have gotten enough training and advices that can make you establish your own business. We are here for consultations and activities that rehabilitate you. Two of you have been consulted as instructors, and one other as sign language teacher. Let us know where you are and how you are adjusting to the society.”
She further said, “FOTD also remain grateful to National Directorate of Employment, NDE, which gave the organisation the first start-up equipment and tools and have collaborated with us to date. We thank Lagos Island Local Government for their support, SNEPCO, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Individual Partners, UBEC, Women Affairs, Sage Foundation Nigeria, Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Main Research, Victoria Island, small world Nigeria and other sponsors.
She explained, “The focus of the center now is not only empowerment but also rehabilitation with jobs that can fetch them income with what they have learned. “Two of our ex-students have recently been rehabilitated. One is into continuing education here and features as a tailor too while the other works with a bone craft center for income generation.”
