How Skills Training Can Create Economic Freedom for Women and Youth

 

Economic freedom begins with opportunity, and for women and youth in underserved communities, opportunity often comes through skills development. In Nigeria, unemployment and underemployment rates remain high, particularly among young people and women. Without marketable skills, many are trapped in poverty cycles, unable to access decent work or start sustainable businesses.

At Rosana Empowerment Foundation (REF), we believe skills training is a powerful tool for breaking these barriers. Through our livelihood programs, we equip women and youth with practical vocational skills such as tailoring, soap-making, beadwork, catering, digital literacy, and agribusiness. These trainings are complemented by sessions on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, enabling participants to turn skills into viable income streams.

Success stories from REF’s initiatives inspire hope. For instance, a young mother from a rural community who completed our soap-making training now runs a small-scale business supplying local markets. With increased income, she has improved her family’s nutrition and enrolled her children in school. Stories like hers prove that when people are empowered with skills, they gain the confidence and resources to shape their future.

Practical tips for self-reliance include:

• Start small: Begin with low-cost skills and scale up as your income grows.
• Leverage local resources: Use locally available materials to minimize startup costs.
• Network and collaborate: Join community cooperatives to pool resources and access bigger markets.
• Embrace digital tools: Social media can help market products and attract customers at little or no cost.

REF also advocates for increased government and private sector investment in vocational training as a sustainable approach to reducing unemployment and poverty. Skills development is not just a personal gain, it strengthens families, boosts community economies, and contributes to national development.

When women and youth achieve economic independence, they can make informed decisions, support their families, and contribute to a more inclusive society. Skills training is not charity, it’s empowerment, and it’s the key to unlocking limitless potential.

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