A non-governmental and non-partisan organisation, Apurimac Onlus Nigeria, which is committed to restoring peace on the Plateau and Nigeria, has trained and graduated 406 Muslim and Christian women and youths on various skills acquisitions.
Addressing the graduands and audience at its 8th graduation ceremony held at Dadin Kowa Youth Centre, Jos, the country coordinator of Apurimac, Chief Godwin Okoko, said he was happy to announce that the centre has trained over 5,000 persons on various skills ranging from tailoring, hairdressing, shoe making and cobbling, knitting, catering to ICT.
He said the organisation was committed to human and capital development, geared towards the development of the society using entrepreneurship skill development as a tool in mitigating conflict, promoting peace, good governance and community cohesion. On his part, the Director of Apurimac Centre in Jos, Mr. Davou Dagyang, said of the 406 graduands, 206 are Muslims, while the rest are Christians, adding that they were drawn from the Rantiya and Ali-Kazaure vocational centres.
He said during the training period, the graduands were concurrently taught basic peace-building skills and key to right relationships. Dagyang said the Apurimac is set to open more centres across the state, including Mikang in the southern part of the state.
Special adviser on Labour Matters to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, Mr. Samuel Kwapkur, who chaired the occasion, thanked the organisation for training such an overwhelming number, adding that by such training of youths in particular, restiveness and crime will automatically be reduced in the society.
He also noted that providing job opportunities to citizens is not an exclusive duty of government, urging other organisations to take a cue from Apurimac.
Dignitaries at the occasion, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Face of Peace, Nigeria, Mallam Salisu Abdulrahaman, all praised Apurimac for engaging the idle youths and women, and taking them away from social vices.
