The Society for Family Health (SFH) says skills acquisition can improve health outcomes by strengthening livelihoods, resilience and access to healthcare.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of SFH, Dr Omokhude Idogho, stated this in Kaduna at the inauguration of a three-month skills acquisition programme for 65 vulnerable women, adolescents and young people across the state.
The programme was organised by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in collaboration with SFH, with support from ViiV Healthcare Positive Action.
ALSO READ: Society for Family Health Launches Innovators Fund
Represented by the SFH Project Director, Paediatrics, Adolescent and Women Programme, Dr Aisha Dadi, Idogho said economic empowerment and health outcomes were closely linked, as people with sustainable livelihoods were more likely to prioritise their wellbeing.
According to him, skills acquisition should be viewed beyond employment, describing it as an important public health intervention capable of building resilience and restoring hope.
“When we equip young people and women with practical, marketable skills, we are not simply teaching them a trade,” the SFH Project Director emphasised.
Idogho explained that beneficiaries would gain the confidence and capacity to earn a livelihood, support their families and make informed decisions, including those relating to their health.
He noted that financial stability could encourage people to seek healthcare when necessary, adhere to treatment and remain engaged with health systems.
The SFH CEO said the 65 beneficiaries were selected from Kaduna State’s three senatorial zones and would receive intensive practical training at various centres.
He urged the beneficiaries to attend every training session, ask questions, practise diligently and see themselves as architects of their future.
Representing the Director-General of NDE, Mr Silas Agara, the Kaduna State Coordinator, Mr Ambianto Francis, said unemployment remained a global challenge that required innovative solutions.
Francis explained that the partnership reflected the shared vision of NDE and SFH to create opportunities through practical skills capable of enabling beneficiaries to generate wealth.
He advised participants to take the training seriously, respect their trainers and acquire knowledge that could help them establish businesses and support their families.
“Skill acquisition is a path to greatness, whether you have a degree or not,” Francis said, stressing that practical competence could open doors to economic independence.
Francis urged beneficiaries to become ambassadors of the programme by applying their skills successfully and helping others acquire similar competencies.
Representing the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, Zainab Shehu commended SFH, NDE, facilitators and other stakeholders for empowering women and young people.
She said practical and entrepreneurial skills were essential for building confidence, promoting self-reliance and creating opportunities that could contribute to improved wellbeing.
The Commissioner appealed to trainers to patiently nurture participants while maintaining discipline and ensuring that the three-month programme produced measurable results.
