By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
President of Calabar South Stake Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Ephraim Ebong, has said that the training of 80 you in different skills acquisition would help in the eradication of poverty caused by unemployment to check the rate of insecurity in the country.
Ebong made the assertion while aanswering questions from nnewsmen on why the church decided to join the fray of joining hands with government at all levels to reduce to number of unemployed youths, so that benefiaries of the programme can contribute their quotas to the development of the nation’s economy.
The cleric stressed that with the training, many can become self reliant, and take themselves from the doldrums and shackles of poverty, because much would be done with their hands instead of waiting for white colar jobs that may hardly exist.
On why Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints decided to bring in government officials in attendance, the Calabar South Stake President stated that the presence of government officials may help in the formulation of policies/decisions of government that would tackle the unemployment menace.
In his earlier remarks, Ebong enumerated areas in which the 80 youths got the skills acquisition training to include electrical installation/wiring, air conditioning and refrigeration repairs, welding/fabrication, plumbing and tilling, as well as carpentry and joinery.
He further enumerated other areas that the church trained youths in the skill acquisition programme to include auto-mechanics, tailoring, catering, soap making, detergent, creams, bleach, beads, shoes, bags, mats, wooden hats, computer technology/desktop publishing as well as hard and software installation, maintenance and repairs.
He said, “Skills acquired by bbeneficiaries of the programme shall be used to leverage themselves and make poverty a thing of the past when they put the skills into full utilization.
“Our intention is to join hands to help rebuild our society and prepare our youths to take responsibility of their lives especially as unemployment continues to bite the Nigerian society harder.
“Due to this, we have created what we call a Gathering Place, where we bring them together to interact, build relationship, learn and acquire skills, develop leadership skills to help them become good leaders tomorrow in order for us to have better society. This training is not limited to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is for all children of God.”
In his remarks, the Calabar North Stake President, Ekong Akwaowo, and Calabar Nigeria Stake President, Alex Nkoro, corroborated President Ebong’s postulation, but averred that the skill acquisition programme is aimed at building capacity of young adults who can conquer challenges of the future, no matter how tough the economic situation may look, because of the skills acquired.
