Idara Michael charts path to youth empowerment in Owu Kingdom

By Juliet Ebirim

For Idara Michael, community impact is often measured less by ceremony and more by what people are able to do long after an event ends.

That sentiment shaped conversations in Abeokuta as the SkillUp Project came to a close in Owu Kingdom, where 130 residents completed weeks of hands-on training designed to introduce practical income-generating skills.

Speaking at the closing event, Amb. Idara Michael who is the Executive Vice President of JCI Nigeria, reflected on the wider value of skills-based initiatives, noting that community projects achieve more when participants extend opportunities to others.

“Impact is only sustainable when it is shared,” she said.

According to her, the significance of the project was not only in the number of people trained but in the possibility that those skills could continue to circulate within families and neighbourhoods.

“By training 130 individuals, we aren’t just helping 130 people; we are potentially creating 130 new businesses that can employ hundreds more,” she added.

She also acknowledged the role played by JCI Rockcity and the Olori of Owu Kingdom in bringing the initiative to life, highlighting the importance of collaboration in creating opportunities that reflect community needs.

The programme exposed participants to different vocational paths including shoe making, crocheting, tie-and-dye production and the creation of household items. The free training also facilitated access to interest-free funding opportunities.

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