◾Advises beneficiaries to be beacons of hope in Skills Acquisition
The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) in its mission to carry all adults and out of school youths, on Wednesday September 24, 2025 empowered handful of artisans from the five South Eastern states of Imo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu and Enonyi with startup tools needed to hit the ground running to make ends meet in their areas of specialty.
The programme tagged “South East Zonal Presentation of Vocational Skills Acquisition Materials/Equipment using Literacy through Economic Empowerment Strategy (LEES)” which took place in Owerri with hands-on practical and assessment sessions by state representatives and coordinators as well as examiners, according to NMEC leadership was anchored on Federal government’s commitments to drive democratic dividends to the grassroots as well as gainfully engaging the citizenry for self reliance.
The beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme who were selected from Fashion design, Home Economy, Shoe making, Catering, Hair Dressing, and Barbing, on first, second, third basis were given standard/premium work tool sets which included industrial sewing machine, weaving machines, Deep Chest Freezer, Electrical and Charcoal iron, Ring lights, make-up kits, Clippers, Grinding machines, Coolers, Gas cylinders, pots, hair driers and tongulars among others.
The Head of Department, National Skills and Continued Education, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education, Mrs. Nnenna Ejieji, extolled participants for their commitments in the programme while noting that all participants are the best from their respective states, as the aim of their practical assessment was to make them compete to ascertain the overall best among themselves.
Mrs. Ejieji while recounting the commission’s journey since 2022, stressed that only the State centers were equipped with tools.
She harped on the need for both participants and beneficiaries of LEES initiative to always value whatever they earn during the competition.
Addressing the people at the event, the Imo State Director, State Agency for Mass Literacy, Pastor Okere L.I.C highlighted the need for beneficiaries to use the various items for the betterment of the society, urging them to also teach others in order to alleviate poverty in the society.
He further appealed to the winners to remain diligent, and make judicious use of materials given to them in so as to be self reliant, and also help to build others, while stating that most developed countries rose through same strategy NMEC is applying, describing NMEC’s ideology as a paradigm vision.
One of the winners, Mrs. Patricia Anosike of team Imo who came first in Fashion and design expressed gratitude to NMEC officials for keeping to their words, as she equally assured to pass on the knowledge by training others free of charge, just as she was freely given.
“I am encouraged by this victory, I will use these tools to empower others, although I had been doing it through my Pat skills Acquisition center at Nwaorieubi, here in Imo State”
A catering beneficiary, Okekemba Modesta who could not contain her joy thanked the organizers for blessing her with long expectations and prayed God to enlarge her coast to be pillar to others in need of her services.
Other beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the national leadership, state coordinators of NMEC as well as organizers of the programme for a well packaged programme and coming through for them in time of need, while assuring to use their tools judiciously and train interested people free of charge.
