DPATFOUNDATION FLAGS OFF 2026/2027SKILL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR 100 WOMEN AND YOUTHS
The flag off event of the 2026/2027 edition of DPat Foundation’s free skill training programme was held on the 10th of February 2026 at the Mass Literacy Centre, Gwagwalada, Abuja FCT. The programme with the theme, Building Skills, Creating Livelihood, was organized in conjunction with the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) and the Rufus Ebebga Centre for Leadership and Environmental Sustainability. The event attracted the presence of numerous guests and dignitaries from various government agencies and private bodies, including the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), the Rufus Ebebga Centre for Leadership and Environmental Sustainability, the Cooperative Department, FCT Agriculture and Rural-Development Secretariat, the Nigeria Women Economic Development (NigWED), the Agriculture and Rural Development Project (ADP), FADAMA-Care, the Police Community Relations Commission (PCRC) and the Paultary Farmers Association.
Others include the Gwagwalada Market Traders Association, the Nature Renaissance International Ltd., etc. Various traditional rulers and village heads who were also present include the Aguma of Giri, Bello Sariki the village head of Iddo Sarki, the Sarki sa’ana of Gwagwalada, among others. Speaking during her formal welcoming address, the national president of DPat Foundation (NGO), Elder (Mrs.) Patience Ardey JP, said that the event was designed with one clear goal in mind, “To empower women and young people with practical income generating skills that will enable them become self-reliant, entrepreneurial and economically active within their communities.” She said that women and youths will not only change their own lives, but will also uplift their own families, strengthen their own communities and contribute positively to national economy when they are equipped with required entrepreneurial skills and given the necessary supports. She stressed that the skills to be gained are those that can be immediately applied to create sustainable livelihood.
She further extended her heart felt appreciation to the partners and collaborators of the programmes whose supports have made the programme possible. These partners include, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). According to her, the NDE have been a long standing partner of DPat Foundation. These partners include, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). According to her, the NDE have been a long standing partner of DPat Foundation. The partnership goes way back to 1987 when the directorate was newly established, and through them DPAT Foundation has trained over ten thousand
women and youths in various trade skills, many of whom were also empowered with equipment to start their own businesses.
Another strong and longstanding partner of the foundationis the Abuja Enterprise Agency, (AEA), who she said has been a strong partner since 2006 and have given grants of up to four hundred thousand naira each to 50 entrepreneurs through DPat Foundation. She also revealed that the AEA is a one-stop shop centre for small businesses to get access services from other agencies like NAFDAC, SON, CAC etc., for those who come through DPat Foundation. This is besides the technical supports that our entrepreneurs have enjoyed over the years from them. Other partners include, the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the Bank of Industry, Fadama-Care who provided agricultural inputs to over 200 farmers through DPat Foundation in 2024. The Agricultural Development Project (ADP), Airwaves and other supporting partners.
She concluded by thanking and assuring the guests and participants of DPat Foundation’s commitment to transparency, accountability and measurable impacts with the vision to continue creating opportunities that will empower individuals thereby reducing poverty among women and youths. The two-week training programme is designed to train 100 women and youths in various trade skills.
The Abuja Enterprise Agency presented a lecture titled Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). The representative of the agency, Mr. Bala Sokwa, in his presentation, spoke on the meaning and importance of SMEs in the economy. Hesaid that SMEs employ a large percentage of the working population and empowers youths and women and therefore, having one own business is the solution to the harsh economic reality that even paid employees are faced with today. He explained that limited business skills, poor access to funding, weak digital and marketing skills, among other factors, are the limitations of SMEs.
He further stressed that usiness management trainings for small traders, financial literacy, digital skills for youth-led startups, among other things, are the keys to successful SMEs as trained entrepreneurs are sure to grow stable businesses successfully. He also emphasized the roles of the Abuja Enterprise Agency whichinclude skill development and capacity building, business formalization and advisory supports, access to finance and grants among others.
On their own part, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) also presented a speech titled, Benefits of Skill Acquisition. The speech was delivered by Dr. Hassn Abdulkareem Abdulhakim who represented the organization. In his lecture Dr. Hassan earnestly appealed to the participants to take the training very seriously and set goals for themselves and work hard towards it with perseverance and determination. He expressed concerns over the low skill levels among Nigerian job seekers and therefore, encouraged the intending trainees to take the opportunity presented to them with all seriousness. He said the training will be a stepping stone to success for them if they take it seriously. He also challenged DPat Foundation to ensure that the training is qualitative enough to meet the required standard.
In her own lecture, representative of the FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Abdusallam Mondia, stressed the importance of women forming and belonging to cooperative societies. She said that women today are thebackbones of many household economies. According to her, it is cooperatives that are helping many women, even those in paid employments, to handle the challenges of household finances. She urged the women to try and become more self-reliant by being part of the DPat Foundation cooperatives. She also appealed to the relevant bodies and other organizations and individuals to come to the aid of DPAT Foundation as the foundation is doing so much to help women. She said that the founder and president of DPat Foundation, Elder Patience Ardey is making a lot of personal sacrifices in ensuring that women and youths are economically empowered and therefore, should be given the needed supports by relevant government bodies, organisations and individuals.
The representative of the Director of ADP, Mrs. Justina Ogumelen, in her goodwill message said that in other places people pay to be part of this kind of opportunity. She therefore encouraged the participants to take the opportunity with all seriousness. Mr. Ado of the Fadama N-Care, representing the Fadama N-Care coordinator, Chief Philip Ojokojo, in his goodwill message acknowledged Dapt Foundation’s performance in the past Fadama N-Care free farm inputs distributions to farmers and promised further that the Fadama N-Care will continue to partner with DPat Foundation.
The representative of project NigWED (the Nigeria Women Empowerment Development), Lugard O. Okonobo, made a presentation on the newly launched Tri-tractor for farmers, especially, women farmers. According to him, the tri-tractor was locally manufactured, so it is easy and cheap to maintain. The tri-tractor is available for farmers everywhere within the FCT for renting. The FCT PCRC Command Chairman, former DG, Biosafety Agency and the founder, Rufus Ebegba Centre for Leadership and Environmental Sustainability and a partner to DPat Foundation, Dr. Rufus Ebegba was present to grace the occasion while the Area Command Chairman, PCRC, Gwagwalada, Elder Ajayi Taofik, who was also present, spoke at the event, advising the youths and women on security and safety.
The event concluded with the official presentation of over 100 intending trainees.