Over 200 undergraduates of the Sokoto State University (SSU) have received vocational training under the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA) Stream 7 programme.
Financed by Fidelity Bank Plc in partnership with Gazelle Academy, the students were trained in skills including fashion design, handsets repair, cocktail and make up.
Speaking yesterday in Sokoto, the managing director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the programme was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility.
Represented by the bank’s head of recruitment, Mr. Chris Nnawe, the managing director said more than five higher institution in Nigeria had benefitted from the YEA programme since its debut at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2016.
“We in Fidelity bank have targeted programmes on education, environment and youth empowerment. This one you are witnessing today is part of fulfilling our promises to the society,” he said.
He said the youths were trained to acquire some skills to enable them to be self reliant and also make them to be employers of labour even while in school.
Okonkwo further said that at the end of the training, starter packs will be given to each participant to aid them start something of their own, adding that after the undergraduates’ education, they could seek for soft loans from the Small, Medium Enterprise (SMEs) department of the bank.
In his speech, the governor of the state, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal expressed appreciation to the bank and its partner for choosing the school for the programme.
He said as a responsible government, his administration had prioritised the welfare of youths in the state and enjoined the participants to be focused in order to benefit from the training.
