A non-governmental organisation, Abibakr As-Sidiq Philanthropic Home, has empowered scores of orphaned and vulnerable children in Kwara State with vocational and life skills as part of efforts to address youth unemployment and rising insecurity.
The initiative, tagged the Orphan Support Project, was implemented with funding support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and recently concluded with an empowerment and vocational training close-out ceremony held in Ilorin.
Speaking at the event on Monday, the Chief Operating Officer of Abibakr As-Sidiq Philanthropic Home and Project Manager, Farid Salman, said neglecting vulnerable children posed long-term security risks to society.
“If vulnerable children are neglected, insecurity becomes inevitable because idle hands are easily recruited into criminal activities. This intervention is about addressing insecurity at its roots,” he said.
Salman explained that the project, which commenced in March last year, was designed to move beyond short-term welfare by focusing on long-term empowerment, self-reliance and sustainability. He disclosed that beneficiaries had completed vocational training in tailoring, catering, ICT and computer hardware maintenance, tricycle riding and welding.
According to him, the graduating participants received certificates and empowerment tools to enable them to begin income-generating activities immediately. He added that additional training programmes in hairdressing, furniture and cabinet making, and electrical installation were ongoing, with equipment already procured for distribution upon completion.
Beyond skills training, the project also provided food supplies to orphanage homes and beneficiary households, while school fees covering two academic terms were paid. Salman said arrangements were underway to settle the remaining term and distribute outstanding learning materials.
“As of today, the Orphan Support Project has achieved about 95 per cent completion, with all activities implemented strictly in line with the approved proposal,” he said, while commending KSrelief for its support and acknowledging the leadership of the foundation’s president, Mallam AbdulRazzaq Ibrahim Salman.
Also speaking, the Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Dr Mariam Nnafatima Imam, described the initiative as timely, noting that empowerment programmes for orphans aligned with the state government’s child protection and poverty reduction agenda.
“By equipping these children with vocational skills, you are giving them hope, dignity and a future. Government alone cannot address all social challenges, which is why partnerships like this are critical,” she said, assuring the foundation of the ministry’s willingness to collaborate on future empowerment and mentorship programmes.
On behalf of beneficiaries, Olori Muslimat Dawodu expressed appreciation to the foundation, noting that the food supplies would support the care of about 80 orphans under her supervision.
The initiative highlights the growing role of faith-based and non-profit organisations in using skills development and enterprise-focused empowerment to create sustainable livelihoods and reduce social risks in local communities.
