AE-FUNAI RENDERS COMMUNITY SERVICE TO WOMEN OF HOST COMMUNITY
The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability (CEE), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu–Alike, Ebonyi State, on Monday, 10th February, 2020, organized a one -day training for skill acquisition for Ndufu-Achara Women, in pursuance of its responsibility and contribution to the socio-economic development of its host community, Ikwo in Ebonyi State.

The well attended training, which was conducted by Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability (CEE) in collaboration with Directorate of Community and Extension Services, AE-FUNAI, and funded with voluntary contributions of some staff of the University to support the programme, was held at the Community Anglican Church Ndufu-Achara, Ikwo.

While welcoming the women at the event, Acting Director, CEE, Dr. Makuachukwu Ojide informed them that the programme was set up by Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, to train and empower women of the community so that they could help themselves and their various Families. He stressed that they were going to be trained in production of liquid soap, hair shampoo, toilet soap, toilet wash, styling gel and insecticides. Dr. Ojide explained that after acquiring these skills, it would help them become more productive, alleviate poverty in their homes and invariably contribute to training the next generation, declaring that the gesture was part of the vision of the Vice- Chancellor for community development.


Dr. Makuachukwu Ojide speaking to participants

In his presentation at the event, Dr. Arua Oko, Acting Director for Directorate of Community and Extension Services, AE-FUNAI, explained that community development is part of the mandate which the university is set up to accomplish, emphasizing that the training was to render community service to the women of the host community, develop and empower them financially as a way the University is giving back to society. Dr. Oko iterated that the University is development driven to impact on the society, so women can be useful to themselves and family, adding that the university will organize more skill acquisition training which will extend to industries, the Government of Ebonyi State and the wider community. He enthused that “when the righteous are on the throne the people will rejoice”, stressing that VC, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba is a child of God and wants the people to know a child of God passed through the community by the time he leaves and that the training was the beginning of greater things to come to the people.


Dr. Arua Oko making presentation

Hon. Onyebuchi, Chairman Ikwo Local Government Council, who was guest at the training, expressed joy that Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike,(AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, has extended its Community Extension Services to the host community, through training of women of Ndufu- Achara on various useful production skills, stating that skills acquired by these women will benefit them immensely by making them independent, become producers and employers of labour, become relevant to companies who may need people who are skilled in the production of these items and most importantly, it will provide alternatives to the menial jobs which they are doing presently. He thanked the Management of AE-FUNAI for the gesture to the women of Ikwo and Ebonyi State.


Hon. Onyebuchi making remarks

On behalf of the women of Ndufu-Achara, Mrs. Vera Ikechukwu, the Community Women Mobiliser, expressed gratitude to the Vice- Chancellor, AE-FUNAI, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba and the University Authorities for remembering them at a time like this and for training them effectively on skills that will help them and their families make living, stating that they neither deserved it nor are qualified for such quality training at no cost to them. She further thanked the team who organized the training, the facilitator and everyone who attended the programme.


Mrs. Vera Okechukwu expressing appreciation


CEE Trainers in group photograph


The women in training session


The women display the end products after training