Thursday 10 May 2012

MTN Foundation donates equipment to 45 disabled persons




Hello Friends!


MTN Foundation has presented tools and equipment to no fewer than 45 disabled persons after they completed a two-year skills training sponsored by the foundation.

The beneficiaries, who graduated at the Friends of the Disabled Vocational Skills Acquisition Centre, Lagos, were trained in tailoring, shoemaking and welding.

Executive Secretary, MTNF, Ms. Noony Ugboma, during the presentation on Saturday, said the gesture was part of the foundation’s empowerment programme.

Ugboma said, “Today, we are giving empowerment items to the first set of graduates of the MTN Foundation Skills Acquisition programme. It is skills acquisition for those living with disabilities.

“Forty five of them graduated last year. They spent two years with the FOTD Centre. They were trained in welding, tailoring and shoemaking. Rather than allow them go empty-handed after their training, we decided to empower them with tools to enable them to improve on what they had learnt and better their lots.

“The categories of people at the centre are those with hearing impairment; physically-challenged; dumb and other deformities.”

She said the foundation was in partnership with FOTD, stressing that FOTD was entrusted with recruitment and training of those who passed through their selection process.

“FOTD is entrusted with the recruitment of the disabled through rigorous selection process. There must be basic requirements before they are taken. MTNF does not get involved with the selection process,” Ugboma stated.

She urged other foundations to lend a helping hand to the needy and the disabled for the good of the society.

Executive Director, FOTD, Mrs. Christy Orduh, commended MTNF for the presentation, hoping that the beneficiaries would make good use of the tools and equipment.

Orduh said, “Today, we are witnessing the starter park ceremony of MTNF/FOTD phase 1 project for people with disabilities for 45 beneficiaries in three core skill areas (tailoring, shoemaking and welding and fabrication. We will continue our partnership with the MTN Foundation.”

One of the graduates, Matthew Awesu, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, assured the foundation that they would be good ambassadors.

Awesu, who spoke in sign language with one of their tutors interpreting, said during the two years they stayed at the FOTD, they had a changed orientation.

He urged others not to see disability as the end of the world, insisting that with assistance the disabled could also make it and have a positive impact on the society.

Culled from The Punch.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

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