NSE Spouses Forum Organizes Skills Acquisition Training For Members, Others
By Ebi COLLINS
In a bid to provide alternative sources of livelihood to address the harsh economic realities, Spouses Forum of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Calabar Branch organised a skills acquisition training for her members and the general public to mark the end of engineering year with the aim of improving their living standard.
The Chairperson of the Forum, Mrs. Martha Desmond Ewa stated that with worsening inflation, additional skills are salient as there offer alternative sources of income for improved living standards, adding that relying on a single source of income is risky and leaves one vulnerable in cases of job loss or economic meltdown such as the nation is experiencing.
She said the essence of the skills training was to discourage over-dependence on salary with the view to providing multiple skills for self sufficiency and also to cushion the effect of inflation.
"Gone are the days people survive on just one source of income. For those earning salary no matter the amount you are paid, it will amount to nothing without a complementary source."
Mrs. Ewa said it is the hope of the Forum to see her members and the public live a good life devoid of much financial stress, adding that with the increasing rates of children's school fees, additional skills and income will ease the burden on the parents thereby extending their lifespan.
She thanked the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Calabar Branch, for providing the enabling environment for the skill acquisition to take place. She revealed that the products for demonstration were healthy and purely organic.
"The materials used for production of products are friendly, healthy and organic, instead of using harmful chemicals, especially in soap making, we encourage the use of organic ingredients," Mrs Ewa added.
On her part, Mrs Monica Lukpata, Member Spouses Forum hinted that the programme is an added empowerment as it has been discovered that home-made soap is cheaper and of better quality than some soaps in the market.
A participant, Miss Mabel, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Spouses Forum for organizing the training, she testified that the skill acquisition programme has helped her in no mean measure, as she has learned healthy lifestyle and culinary skills that make for home-building.
She noted that the training has also re-freshened her memory and reengineer her consciousness on the necessity of having multiple skills especially in the challenging times.
According to her she would learn more skills because she does not know the one that will put food on her table at a particular time.
Miss Mabel appealed for the programme be expanded to accommodate more skills and held more regularly so that more people can benefit.
One of the Children in attendance, Miss Faith Agbor, expressed delight at the training and said it has added to her knowledge of home economic.
The event which held at the Engineering Center, Parliamentary Extension, Calabar, had participants from the Forum and members of the public.
Highpoint of the events was training on soap and pastry making.
