The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana who doubles as the founder of the Samira Empowerment & Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), Samira Bawumia has rolled out the Network for Enterprise Development Learning through Sewing for Girls (Needles4Girls) initiative for young women in Tamale in the Northern region.
The project is a collaborative effort between SEHP, Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM) and the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation implemented by GIZ.
The Network for Enterprise Development Learning through Sewing for Girls (N4G) initiative seeks to equip vulnerable young women with employable skills to work within the fashion industry.
The Needles4Girls initiative has had over 2500 young women going through the first screening stage and out of this number, 1600 young women across the country will be trained and equipped with employable skills to work within the fashion industry.
“Women are the backbone of the Ghanaian economy and it is imperative that we invest in, and provide opportunities for their growth and economic empowerment.”
The Second Lady indicated that through the Skills & Entrepreneurial Development Initiative (SEDI), over 3400 women across the Greater Accra, Ashanti and the 5 Northern regions have been trained in soap, detergent and yoghurt making which has created businesses opportunities with the acquired skills.
“1200 women have been trained in partnership with the Ghana EXIM Bank in quality shea nut picking, shea kernel production and preservation through our Shea Empowerment Initiative. Also, 200 women have benefitted from financial management, bookkeeping and business opportunity identification training. In partnership with the Ministry of Business Development and National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), these women have also received loans of varying amounts and interest rates to invest into their businesses.”
She encouraged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunity so that they can compete and collaborate on a global level with the best.
“The Samira Empowerment & Humanitarian Projects (SEHP) is committed to economically empowering women, especially in under-developed communities, to help break the cycle of poverty.”
The GIZ-Ghana Country Director, Madam Regina Bauerochse Barbosa, said the aim of the Network for Enterprise Development Learning through Sewing for Girls (N4G) project is to address the lack of qualified well-trained workers in Ghana’s fashion and textile industries.
She noted that based on GIZ engagement with the fashion scene in the last years they estimated that 60% of the graduates would be directly absorbed by some of the fashion companies or training institutions which themselves are fashion houses that train and employ the best or to bring the graduates into jobs through their wider networks.
The GIZ-Ghana Country Director, entreated the young women to work hard to excel in their training to take advantage of job placement opportunities.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale