Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, on Monday inaugurated a modern skill acquisition centre to empower youths in Abuja and its environs.

The centre is known as the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas Initiative Skills Acquisition Centre.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr Kaigama stressed the need for collaboration and partnership to sustain investment in the youth for a secure future for the country. 

The courses available at the centre include fashion and design, ICT skills such as coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and graphic design. Others include ethical hacking, cloud computing, and drone technology, as well as solar, CCTV, and inverter installation, cinematography and video editing, printing and publishing technology, woodwork and furniture crafting, and catering and event management.

Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande commended the initiative, stating that it aligns with the ministry’s mandate. Mr Olawande pledged to partner with JDPCI to accommodate more youths.

The minister stated that the skill centre aligns with the ministry’s mission to equip young Nigerians with life-changing skills, providing a quick pathway to economic independence and ensuring that no young person is left behind.

Sebastian Sanni, the executive director of JDPCI, said that the center was strategically designed to run as an empowerment hub for young people, university students, children, religious leaders, and the general public.

He said that all courses came with flexible schedules to accommodate diverse groups with a reliable power supply and a standby generator, to deliver consistent training without disruption.

The country representative of UNICEF, Wafaa Abdelatef, congratulated JDPCI on this significant milestone, stating that its values align with those of UNICEF, as it targets the most vulnerable populations.

She said that the vision was for the centre to act as a fulcrum that would facilitate and coordinate a wider initiative for vocational skills development.

Akim Kikonda, the country representative of Catholic Relief Services, an agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that the CRS had partnered with JDPCI over the years.

He stated that the CRS remained deeply committed to its partnership with the Abuja archdiocese and the JDPCI in the mission to promote sustainable livelihoods and empower the next generation of leaders.

Uko Ekott, the country representative of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, congratulated the archbishop on the inauguration of the Centre.

(NAN)