The Bridging Center for Educational Access For Internally Displaced and Barracks Youths and Women empowered 14 internally displaced & barrack youths and women in combined digital and artisanry skills on Thursday 5th December, 2024 at NAOWA Nursery and Primary School 312 Artillery Regiment (Kalapanzin barrack) Kakuri Kaduna.
The graduates received certificates for both Product and Graphics Design as digital skills and either Catering, Tailoring, or Electrical/Electronic Works as artisanry skills.
The Director of the Bridging Center, who is also Director of the Centre for Critical Thinking Teaching and Learning Nigerian Defence Academy, Assoc Prof Caroline Emeka-Ogbonna in her welcome address disclosed that the Bridging Center now operates under a registered non-profit, Education for Growth and Inclusion Foundation.
The Foundation fosters peace and entrepreneurship education for social cohesion, early financial independence in Nigerian youths and women and mitigation of insecurity in the society.
It would be recalled that in 2023 with the help of a one- off community development grant she received from the Institute of International Education USA, as a Fulbright Fellowship Alumni, fifty-four (54) internally displaced & barracks youths and women of Kaduna state received a similar range of education and empowerment from the Center.
The 54 beneficiaries received free training and were empowered on digital and artisanry skills ranging from tailoring, catering and event management, paint making and electrical/electronics works. She expressed her appreciation to Nigerian Defence Academy, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association 1 Div Chapter and other well-meaning Nigerians for their kind donations and support towards the sustenance of the programme.
The Professor of Critical Thinking and Educative Entertainment appealed for more support from government, non-governmental organisations and Nigerians so that the centre could continue empowering the less privileged and displaced members of our society.
The GOC 1 Division Nigerian Army Maj Gen ML Saraso and the CO of 312 Artillery Regiment Lt Col EI Itemuagbor in their addresses congratulated the graduands on their successful completion of their training.
They urged the graduands to put into practice all that they have learnt. The military officers supported the graduands with start-up funds and pledged to sponsor twelve (12) participants for the next programme batch come 2025.
In his address, the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy Maj Gen JO Ochai who was represented by the Director of Administration NDA Cdre DM Ndanusa commended the Coordinator of the programme Assoc Prof Caroline Emeka-Ogbonna for the many lives her centre has touched and stressed the importance of the programme.
He added that the whole world is now heading towards digital skills and entrepreneurship. He assured her of the continuous support of the Academy to her centre in order to touch more lives in the society. He donated in support of the centre and a start-up fund for the graduands.
The Course Representative, Miss Fauziyya Shuaibu, in her Vote of Thanks on behalf of her colleagues, appreciated their trainers, the Academy, the GOC 1 Division and everyone who supported their training. She prayed God to bless them all and wished everyone journey mercies to their respective destinations.
Dignitaries at the event included the representative of the GOC 1 Division who doubles as the Education Secretary (EO) 1 Division Col A Babandi, the Coordinator of NAOWA 1 Division represented by Mrs Oluwaseyi Itemuagbor, senior military officers, staff of the Academy, NDA Postgraduate School students, members of NDA Postgraduate School Alumni Community, the Headteacher of NAOWA Nursery and Primary School Kalapanzin Barrack Mrs Queen Ando, Mrs Oyiza Unung, Mr Ndukwem Ogwo and parents of graduands.
AC Essien
Media Unit
Bridging Centre for Internally Displaced, Barrack Youths and Women
