{"id":7757,"date":"2026-05-19T03:02:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T03:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dpatfoundation.org\/w\/?p=7757"},"modified":"2026-05-23T18:32:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T18:32:56","slug":"dpat-foundation-holds-graduation-ceremonies-for-2026-two-weeks-free-skill-empowerment-trainees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dpatfoundation.org\/w\/dpat-foundation-holds-graduation-ceremonies-for-2026-two-weeks-free-skill-empowerment-trainees\/","title":{"rendered":"DPAT FOUNDATION HOLDS GRADUATION CEREMONIES\u00a0FOR\u00a02026 TWO-WEEKS FREE SKILL EMPOWERMENT TRAINEES"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey JP in a cheery mood with guests during the event.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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It was a day of colourful display of varieties of products ranging from beautifully made dresses and fashion\u00a0accessories such as\u00a0hand bags\u00a0and head gear\u00a0to arrays of varieties of local delicacies and spices like Awara in its various preparations, Masa, Yaji as well as oriental snacks like Samosa, Spring roll, Puff-puff and Small chops. These were produced by the participating women during the two-week\u00a0skill empowerment classes. The items were carefully displayed for exhibition at the graduation ceremonies which held on the 23RD<\/sup>\u00a0of April, 2026\u00a0at the DPat Foundation\u2019s secretariat, Gwagwalada Abuja FCT.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The AGM, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Mrs. Hauwa Umar (middle) with other guests on the high table at the Event.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The graduation ceremonies attracted the presence of guests and personalities from the Abuja Enterprise Agency\u00a0(AEA), in the persons of Mrs. Hauwa\u00a0Umar, the AGM\u00a0of the AEA, Bala Tsokwa and Amina\u00a0M. Bello. Other guests\u00a0include the Gwagwalada Area Council Executive Chairman-Elect, Hon. Mohamed Kasim Ikwa, ably represented by the serving Quarters Ward Councilor, Hon. Nuhu Usman and the FCT Youth Leader, Hon.\u00a0(Amb.)\u00a0Umar Makeri. Other guests include:\u00a0Apostle Mrs. Precious Godson Ohiwerei (JP), \u00a0Barrister Samson Enesi as well as the CEO of Eqaulrights Educational Services, Mr. Musa Paul K., among others.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Hon. Nuhu Usman, Councilor, Quarters Ward, Gwagwalada, representing the Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman-Elect, Hon. Mohammed Kasim Ikwa, speaking while Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey and other guests at the high table look on.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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From the right: Mr. Bala Tsokwa of the AEA, Elder Mrs Ardey and Hon. Nuhu Usman<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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In her welcoming address, the National President, DPat Foundation, Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey JP, highly\u00a0commended\u00a0the\u00a0participants for faithfully participating in the two-week training \u00a0from start to finish in various trades. She praised them for choosing growth over excuses and challenged them to start their own business immediatelt. She encouraged them to start small and start now. She promised that DPat Foundation will not stop its relationship with them with this recorded success. She assured the participants that the certificate being awarded them is not a paper but a passport to dignity, self-reliance and job creation. She further charged them to do their best to be known for excellence in their chosen trades. According to her, DPat Foundation is not about giving people fish but teaching people how to catch fish themselves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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From left: Mrs. Hauwa Umar. AEA, Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey, DPat Foundation and Hon. Nuhu Usman, representing Hon. Mohammed Kasim Ikwa. inspecting items produced by the graduating trainees.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The president also expressed her heart-felt appreciation to the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), who has being a very consistent partner since inception, for their presence and continuous partnership and support. She hinted that out of the 185 people registered for the training at the kick-off event, 100 people started the training proper. 65 people graduated. However, both the registration and the training were done free-of-charge.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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On her own part, Mrs. Hauwa Umar of the Abuja Enterprise Agency commended the President of DPat Foundation, Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey for her tireless services to humanity. She assured the president, the foundation and the newly graduated trainees of the agency\u2019s continuous support and partnership.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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One of the graduating trainees addressing guests on her stand.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman-Elect, Hon. Mohammed Kazim Ikwa, In his speech delivered by the Quarters Ward Councilor, Hon. Nuhu Usman promised DPat Foundation that the new incoming area council administration, to be led by Hon. Mohammed Kazim Ikwa, will carry DPat Foundation along in its activities and will work assiduously with the foundation to reach the grassroots. According to Hon. Nuhu Usman, the incoming chairman, Hon. Kasim Ikwa is a man of action who does what he says. In his own capacity, Hon. Nuhu Usman, who said he has known Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey and her selfless services for over 30 years pledged to donate two sewing machines and a sum of two hundred thousand naira to the foundation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Apostle Mrs. Precious Godson Ohiwerei, in her goodwill message praised the president of DPat Foundation, Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey for her unyielding commitment to women and youths empowerment. She said she has known Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey since 1997 and has always known her for her good works of empowering women and youths with trades skills at no cost to the beneficiaries. She also commended her for the other great humanitarian works she is doing, especially, PROJECT60, the DPat Foundation Scholarship Scheme for indegent rural children through which over 60 chidldren are currently being sponsored through school (from primary to secondary school).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Several girls, young women and older women were part of the training. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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She appealed to the Abuja Enterprise Agency and other government and private partners to come to the aid of both the foundation and the founder\/president, Elder Mrs. Patience Ardey. She said that Elder Mrs. Ardey will be 70 years of age this year and it was through her humanitarian and community outreaches that they both met three decades ago. Since then she has never slowed down nor rested but has rather gained further momentum tirelessly carrying out her humanitarian and community works through the foundation, crisscrossing the lengths and breath of rural communities on foot. \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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One of the graduating women sitting behind arrays of dresses and other items made by her.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Apostle Ohiwerei, further appealed to the stakeholders and partners such as the Abuja Enterprise Agency and other government and corporate bodies and individuals to extend a helping hand to the foundation and its founder especially in the area of mobility as they move from community to community helping the grassroots. DPat Foundation, she said, seriously and urgently need a motor vehicle for the work. She insisted that it is not too much for a bus to be donated to the foundation by its partners. According to her DPat Foundation has never owned a bus in spite of all the sacrifices and selfless works it has carried out with great positive impacts across communities. Rather it has depended on public transport system which is very inconvenient and limiting.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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More items produced by the trainees on display.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Tailoring students were in the majority. All the dresses and accessories made within the two weeks of training were made with only needles and threads - without sewing machines.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Several graduating trainees in the different trades (tailoring\/fashion, local dishes and catering) lauded the two-week programme, describing it as a worthwhile experience. Those who testified on behalf of the rest said that with their newly acquired skill they can now start a business. They thanked DPat Foundation, the founder\/president and the team for the opportunity given to them to gain these skills for free. The beneficiaries were mostly widows, single mothers and underemployed young and older women.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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A graduating trainee proudly posing with her works on display.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The event climaxed at the mini exhibitions where the guests were conducted round the tables displaying varieties of local and continental snacks as well as dresses, bags and other fashion accessories and crafts produced by the trainees. In his votes of thanks Barrister Samson Enesi appreciated the women for publicly acknowledging and appreciation the fact that the training was given them free without a dime collected from them by DPat Foundation. He said that by so doing they are encouraging intending partners and sponsors to come in and support the foundation so it can do more and better.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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One of the young women eagerly sitting by samples of local spices (Yaji) she has produced. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Certificate of participation being presented to the graduating trainees<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Vote of thanks by Barrister Samson Enesi.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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More images from the evnt in the gallery below<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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