Skills Acquisition Remains Strongest Weapon Against Poverty, Crime, Says NGO Founder
Skills Acquisition Remains Strongest Weapon Against Poverty, Crime, Says NGO Founder
…calls for support to build permanent headquarters
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
A Non Governmental Organisation, Holy Infant Jesus Pilgrim Centre, has identified skills acquisition as one of the most effective tools for tackling poverty, unemployment and rising social vices in Nigeria, while calling for support towards the construction of its permanent headquarters in Umuahia, Abia State.
The Founder of the organisation, Mrs Ezeala Benny Nkechi, stated this on Saturday during a media briefing ahead of the formal launch of the NGO scheduled for August 22, 2026.
She explained that the organisation was established to show love, care and compassion to vulnerable persons across communities, especially widows, orphans, children, persons with disabilities and indigent youths.
According to her, empowering vulnerable people through vocational and life skills training would help transform them into self reliant individuals capable of contributing meaningfully to the economy.
Mrs Nkechi noted that the organisation has spent the past six years carrying out humanitarian interventions in different communities across Abia State. She said the NGO also campaigns against prostitution, drug abuse, cultism, examination malpractice, armed robbery and sexual and gender based violence among young people.
“We focus on the whole person, not just physical training. Our aim is to restore dignity, hope and purpose to the vulnerable in society,” she said, while appealing to donor agencies and public spirited individuals to support the initiative” she said.
She further disclosed that the organisation is seeking assistance to establish a permanent secretariat and training centre in Umuahia to expand its operations.
According to her, the proposed headquarters would include classrooms, counselling and trauma recovery centres, as well as conducive learning facilities designed to accommodate and train more than 2,000 beneficiaries annually. She assured prospective partners of transparency and accountability in the execution of the project, stressing that contributions would be invested in permanent infrastructure that would serve generations.
Mrs Nkechi also commended the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and his wife, Mrs Priscilla Otti, for their efforts towards improving the welfare of vulnerable youths and victims of gender based violence in the state.
She added that the organisation would present a special gift to the governor in appreciation of his service to the people of Abia State.
Photo: Mrs Nkechi and members of the NGO