Miss Elizabeth Paul, Corps Member serving with Corner Stone Academy, Miango in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau, has trained and donated sewing machines to some girls displaced by the recent attacks in the area.

Speaking during the donation of the items on Friday in Miango, Paul said that the gesture was supported by the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), a Non-Governmental Organisation.

She said that the beneficiaries were largely young girls displaced by the series of the attacks in the community, adding that some of them lost their parents during the incidents.

She further said that the initiative was designed to empower the beneficiaries with skills and improve their livelihoods.

Paul also said that the beneficiaries were trained for six months in tailoring.

“I choose to embark on this project after listening to few stories of how these girls became school drop outs due to the tragedies that claimed the lives of their parents.

“The death of their parents made them drop out of school because there was no one to sponsor them to continue their academic journey.

“To enable them put food on their tables and engage in meaningful venture, I decided to share my tailoring knowledge with them.

“We are grateful to ICON, who provided these sewing machines and other items for the beneficiaries,” he said.

Paul thanked residents of the community for the support and cooperation accorded to her, particularly in her drive toward providing skills to their young girls.

Earlier, Mr Lawrence Zongo, said that his organisation supports vulnerable people, particularly youths to gain access to quality education and other means of livelihood.

He called on the government at all levels to initiate policies and programmes aimed at empowering vulnerable people in the society.

“Empowering these girls is not just a moral obligation, it is a legal responsibility under various international agreements.

“By investing in education, vocational training and psychosocial support, we can transform lives and rebuild our communities.

“I call on government agencies, faith-based organisations and philanthropists to take immediate action.

“Authorities must fulfill their constitutional responsibility to provide adequate security and welfare for citizens, as outlined in Section 14 of the Nigerian Constitution.

“But we cannot afford to wait for bureaucratic processes to catch up with the sufferings of our people; scholarships, skill acquisition programmes and trauma support can restore hope and ensure no young person is left behind,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Yavala Iliya, the Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in the state, lauded Paul for the initiave.

Iliya, represented by the Mr Bissi Ishaku, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of NYSC in the state, he called on the beneficiaries to put the items into good use.

He also called on the residents of Miango to patronise the young tailors to make their businesses viable