Ijeoma Agudosi
Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD)Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship Training(VTE) Academy held their first ever graduation ceremony for the class of 2014 in Lagos.
In an interview with Oriental News Nigeria, the chief executive officer (CEO) Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde gave insights to how her little dream grew into a huge success story.
According to her, The programs at the foundation for skills development started in May 2003 in a church (Redeem Christian Church), with teenage members who acquired skills and used that as avenue in making money while in school.
The adults in the same church were interested; hence, the need to go public was imperative. In contributing towards reducing societal ills by encouraging enterprise development through job creation in the service, manufacturing and small business area, FSC VTE was born.
The Foundation was officially registered in 2005 by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Born out of aburden to reduce the number of youths that walked the streets aimlessly every day, the Foundation has achieved great success. We aim at providing structured technical education and make trainees ready to access artisan and technical jobs in industry.
Speaking further, she said with the Foundation acting as a leverage for employment or employers of labour in industry Schneider Electric, UPS,LECAN, Sterlin bank etc are Partners to the Foundation.
Programs at the foundation include but not limited to the following:Electrical engineering, Fashion designing, Catering, Make up artistry etc.
On her challenges she mentioned financial constraints and the need for more partners inputting that rather than cash donations to the course, she would prefer equipments for running the different programs.
These will help immensely in cutting costs.
Mrs Omowale attributed her success to support from her family and a huge support comes from them for her passion in her contribution to societal development.
The program attracted over a hundred graduating trainees with special guest of honour from Schneider Electric’s Country President Mr Walid Sheta and the CEO SOP consulting engineers and project managers Chairman Engineer Shola Sanni, in attendance.
Awards and certificates were accorded to trainees with distinction and staff for honourable work ethics.
Oriental news also met with the graduates one of which was Mr Eric who expressed high hopes and his participating in the program being a privilege.
A graduate from the electrical engineering department Mr Eric Emeruwa, said through the FSD he has been given license to partner with Schneider Electric and that this is all thanks to FSD/VTE.