From Despair to Skills: Empowering Over 400 Women and Youths on World Youth Skills Day

Glory Wglass was faced with pulling her children out of school due to financial constraints. That is, until she attended a skills training workshop and learnt new techniques of baking, which have empowered her to earn more.

“I can now pay my children’s school fees” – she says.

She is not alone.

23 year old Pepple Micah had spent the last seven years — since finishing secondary school in 2018 — in a state of stagnation, unsure of what steps to take to fulfill his dream of furthering his education. A dream now possible as the fees for him sitting for the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations were covered by a sponsorship initiative.

So also was Charity Rowland – trying to find opportunities to move forward without losing her self-respect.

All three now have a new lease on life.

From Despair to Dignity

As the world commemorates the World Youth Skills Day, a global celebration of technical and vocational education, hosted every year on July 15, the stories of Nigerian women and youths gaining new skills and hope through targeted training programs stand out as a beacon of empowerment.

Hundreds of individuals –  248 of them, mostly women and youth from host communities in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria —have been given the opportunity to learn trades like catering, baking, and hairdressing. Over 200 youths in dire need of educational support were also funded through payment of their examination fees.

These initiatives, supported by Ibom Developers FZE and Sumedha Energy Limited respectively, not only equipped beneficiaries with marketable skills but also restored dignity, independence, and a pathway to sustainable livelihoods.

From Training to Transformation: Real Stories of Impact

Glory Wglass, mother of three, shares how the baking and catering training has transformed her life. Before the program, Glory was already involved in baking but lacked formal skills and equipment.

“I can do fish pie, egg roll, and donut very well now,” she says confidently. “The training has increased the type and quality of snacks I make. I make more sales now and I have used the increased income to support my family and pay my children’s school fees.”

Despite not having basic equipment, still using a bottle to roll dough, Glory dreams of owning a shop to expand her business and teach others. “Anybody that comes to me, I can teach them,” she adds, highlighting the ripple effect of empowerment.

Charity Rowland, a young woman with an O-level education, recounts how the training came at a time when she had no business or income. “The training actually came at a good time because there was nothing happening,” she explains.

She has learned to prepare snacks like buns and pancakes, which she now hawks daily. “Since the training, I have started making some money,” Charity says. However, she notes that she needs financial support to buy larger quantities and grow her business. Her hope is to use the income to further her education and eventually open a catering shop. “This life is not good to just stay idle,” she advises others. “Grab any opportunity you see.”

For Pepple Micah, the support went beyond vocational skills to academic advancement. Hoping to be a geologist in future, thanks to sponsorship, Pepple was able to register and write the JAMB “I scored 245, which is above the cutoff for geology,” he shares with pride.

After years of financial struggle and inactivity, Pepple is now preparing to pursue his university admission, a dream made possible through the initiative’s financial backing. “I was doing absolutely nothing. I had given up hope of writing JAMB this year until this opportunity came. I am really grateful,” he says.

 

The Significance of World Youth Skills Day in Nigeria

The World Youth Skills Day, commemorated every July 15, highlights the critical importance of equipping youth with technical and vocational skills essential for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. It aims to promote skills development as an enabler to attain these ideals.

In Nigeria, a large percentage of women and youth, especially in rural communities, lack access to higher education and formal job opportunities. Socio-economic factors, cultural norms and digital exclusion have been identified as key barriers.

Most women engaged in economic activities are in informal or self-employment, with limited access to entrepreneurship resources or formal jobs. The evolution of skills development as a game changer in the lives of women and youths have been found to be transformational.

And as the world celebrates World Youth Skills Day, skills development has become literally the difference between a life without quality and one filled with hope and opportunities.

Vocational training programs like those sponsored by Ibom Developers FZE and Sumedha Energy Limited directly provide practical skills that translate into income-generating activities.

By funding examination fees for 200 beneficiaries and conducting trainings in catering, baking, and hairdressing for more than 200 women and youths, these companies are removing barriers to inertia, certification and formal recognition, enabling women and youths to become better equipped.

This is especially helpful as these initiatives help in:

• Empowering Women and Youths: Skills training in areas like catering, baking, hairdressing, and other vocational trades offers a pathway to economic independence and self-reliance. This is especially vital for widows and vulnerable women who often face social and financial exclusion.
• Bridging the Skills Gap: By focusing on technical, vocational education and training (TVET), the gap between education and employment is reduced, helping beneficiaries to gain market-relevant skills that increase their employability or enable entrepreneurship.
• Local Impact Through Corporate and Community Initiatives: Companies like Ibom Developers FZE, and Sumedha supporting training and exam fees for hundreds of women and youths exemplify how World Youth Skills Day’s spirit translates into real-life empowerment—helping beneficiaries overcome barriers to certification and employment, and fostering confidence, dignity, and economic progress.

 

Corporate Social Responsibility with a Human Touch

Ibom Developers FZE and Sumedha Energy Limited have demonstrated how corporate social responsibility can be a powerful tool for social change. Their investment in skills development is not just about funding but about fostering hope, confidence, and self-reliance among marginalized groups.

Community Development Project Coordinator for Ibom Developers FZE, Ms. Grace Inyang, reiterated the company’s commitment to empowering women.

“This Skills Acquisition Programme demonstrates our strong desire to establish women in various trades. We are offering training in both catering and wig making, including advanced hair ventilation techniques,” Inyang explained.

The Community Development Manager of Sumedha Energy Limited (SEL) Ms. Emem Thomas, at the ceremony for sponsorship beneficiaries reaffirmed the companies’ commitment to supporting education in their host communities.

Thomas stated SEL worked with village heads and paramount rulers across eight local government areas in Akwa Ibom state to identify indigent students who could not afford the registration fees.

 

Impact Beyond Ceremony

As Glory, Charity, and Pepple’s stories illustrate, the impact goes beyond individual success—it uplifts families and communities.

By focusing on women and widows, the programs also challenge traditional gender roles and empower women to become breadwinners and role models. The beneficiaries’ determination to teach others and expand their businesses ensures that the benefits multiply, creating a sustainable cycle of empowerment.

 

Looking Ahead: Building on Success

As World Youth Skills Day reminds us, skills are the foundation for a brighter future. The global recognition emphasizes the role technical and vocational skills play in empowering youth, bridging digital divides and build inclusive, peaceful and resilient societies.

The success of these training initiatives calls for continued support from both the private sector and government to scale up such programs. With adequate funding, mentorship, and access to markets, more Nigerian women and youths can transform their lives and contribute meaningfully to the economy.

For Glory, Charity, and Pepple, the journey has just begun. Their stories are a testament to the power of opportunity and the promise of World Youth Skills Day—a day that celebrates not just skills but the human spirit behind them.