The female staff of First City Monument Bank, under the aegis of FCMB Women, have sponsored and graduated a batch of young secondary school leavers in a three-month intensive skills acquisition and basic business management training programme.
The move aimed at empowering them with entrepreneurial and employability skills is in line with the bank’s commitment to continually impact lives in communities and to mark this year’s International Women’s Day themed: “Be Bold for Change”.
Among other objectives was the desire to lay a solid but early foundation to change the fortunes of the youths who benefited from the ‘girl child’ empowerment project.
In a statement from the bank, the youth empowerment and employability training programme sponsored by FCMB Women was in collaboration with Jakin N.G.O, a highly renowned organisation, with an overall aim of solving some of the challenges faced by underprivileged youth.
The batch made up of 10 young secondary school leavers from rural communities in Lagos within the age range of 16 and 21 years under-went training in computer application skills, business management and planning, book keeping, work ethics, time management, bead and soap making, among others.
Divisional Head, Corporate Services Division, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Miss Felicia Obozuwa, said FCMB Women are very passionate about empowering children especially the less privileged to fulfil their dreams.
This is our little way of helping to ensure that vulnerable girls who have just finished secondary school, are not idle, but given the basic training and exposure, required to give them a head start for a bright future.
Executed through the Fresh Foundation programme, “the initiative is run with the objective to empower youths with entrepreneurship and employability skills”, said Mrs. Bukky Adebiyi, the Founder of Jakin NGO.
One of the beneficiaries of the Fresh Foundation training Programme, Miss Blessing Ogbansiegbe and the best graduating beneficiary who won in addition, a three-month internship with FCMB, thanked the group for the opportunity she got to partake in the programme.
“The training has awakened the giant in me. I have learnt so much about effective communication, improved my knowledge of time management, branding and advertising. I really appreciate FCMB Women for this opportunity given to us on a platter of gold.
We sincerely thank the Bank and its partners, Jakin N.G.O”, the ex-student of Fazl-i-Omar Senior High School, Iwaya Lagos enthused.For Chioma Akintaiwo, who finished from Surulere Girls Secondary School, Lagos, it was a wonderful moment for her, describing the gesture as adding to their lives what would not be forgotten in a hurry.
