WACT Empowers 20 Ogu/Bolo Youths With Essential Skills For Self-reliance

From Ekaete Ikubor
PORT HARCOURT
The West Africa Container Terminals(WACT) in its determination to equip youths within its host communities with essential skills to become self-reliant has empowered 20 youths from Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The youths were given comprehensive training in paint production to demonstrate WACT’s corporate social responsibility.
The initiative, which was launched five months ago to improve lives and raise living standards within its host communities, was designed to equip participants with essential skills to succeed in the paint production industry.
Justin Okwuofu, community relations manager at WACT, said the company was committed to human and economic development.
“Beyond contributing to infrastructural development in the host community, we are also interested in the economic growth of the people in our host communities”, he said.
Okwuofu said the donation of starter packs to the trainees aligned with WACT’s commitment to improve lives and equip the youths to put their knowledge into practice.
He also encouraged the trainees to use the starter packs to generate income other than selling them.
The Community Development Chairman at Ogu Community, Bara Thompson, lauded WACT for its various contributions to the development of the Ogu community.
He also encouraged the trainees to maximise their training and continuously improve their skills as a source of livelihood.
WACT’s dedication to community development is evident in its various initiatives, which aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for individuals in its host communities.
By providing access to quality training and empowering individuals with valuable skills, the company contributes to economic growth and fosters a sense of hope and opportunity among the people.
  One of the trainees, Precious Kingsley, has leveraged his newfound expertise to earn an initial income of N300,000, demonstrating the initiative’s transformative potential.
“Over the years, I have been looking for ways to get this knowledge but through this training, I have learned how to produce different kinds of paint. I also want to thank WACT for the impact this training has started having on me because I just made my first N300,000 through paint production. With this, the society can be better,” he said.
Kingsley said that he intended to use the knowledge from the paint production training to set up a workshop, employ workers and also train them.
  Another trainee, Hannah Sufoye, expressed gratitude to WACT for the opportunity to participate in the training. She emphasised how the training has challenged gender stereotypes.
  “I thought the training was only for men but when I got enrolled, I felt very excited to see ladies in the training room. Through the training, WACT made me believe that even females can paint and produce paint, and I want to thank them for giving everyone this opportunity,” she said.