USADF partners FSD, LSETF on vocational training for 400 youths

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF), Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD) institute and Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) will be training 400 youths in vocational skills.

The grant signing ceremony, which took place on Tuesday at the FSD academy in Agege, had officials of the LSETF and USADF in attendance.

Travis Adkins, president and chief executive officer of USADF, said the grant signifies the foundation’s commitment to the entrepreneurship development of youths in Africa.

“The aim of this grant is to support, in partnership with the LSETF and our local partners, FSD, women and youths of Lagos to cultivate their God-given talents,” Adkins said.

“This will also enable them to develop employable skills, including life-saving skills, create a path for themselves to start their own businesses as entrepreneurs, and find jobs that will allow them to support their families.

“For those who will be entrepreneurs, they will be able to create jobs for other people.”

On her part, Omowale Ogunrinde, founder of FSD academy, said the grant will enable the institute train 400 youths in various vocational skills like catering, tailoring, domestic and industrial wiring, welding, among others.

Ogunrinde said the grant is unique because it provides monthly transport support for those selected for the training.

“We will not be doing this for 21 years if it is not working. Lives and families are being changed. We have done this in 13 states,” she said.

“We have won several local and international awards. We are quiet but the impacts are much. I tell people you can’t make noise when you are making impacts.”