
The diaspora indigenes under the aegis of Asaba Progressive Union (APU), Atlanta, USA, gave the pledge in Asaba at the graduation ceremony of trainees of Asaba Home Diaspora Development Initiative (AHDDI).
Unlike government skill acquisition programmes, AHDDI beneficiaries are largely under the sponsorship of Asaba indigenes in the diaspora.
At the latest graduation ceremony which is the sixth in the series, the trainees exhibited their skills in electrical and solar installation, ICT, hair dressing and make up, catering and baking among others.
A representative of APU, Atlanta, Dr. Patrick Nwokedi expressed satisfaction with the exhibition, noting that the trainees had actually benefitted from the programme.
“On behalf of Asaba Progressive Union (APU), Atlanta, I bring this message that our children are benefitting from this programme and it is really helpful to them.
“With what I have seen today, I am taking it to Atlanta with all the evidence to share to Asaba indigenes in the diaspora to let them see the impact of this programme, and in that way we hope to improve the support from there.
“Our hope is that more would be trained, and with what we have seen it is a clear evidence that this is the way to empower our children and solve the issue of poverty,” he stated.
Welcoming guests earlier, the president and founder of AHDDI, Daphine Arafiena, congratulated the trainees and thanked the sponsors including APU who sponsored five of the trainees.
Arafiena said over 170 youths have received skills training by AHDDI since 2018, disclosing that the initiative has already received the approval of Delta State Government.
She added that in 2020, the initiative “received the recognition and approval of the United Nations economic and social council as an NGO on consultative status.”
Arafiena advised the trainees to be good ambassadors of the training centre, saying that they all demonstrated hard work in the course of the programme.
“You opened yourselves up to new people, an unknown programme, an uncertain challenge and a big step outside your comfort zones.
“Yet each of you is here today through your own sustained hard work, bravery, courage and with the conviction that the challenges of skills training you faced while on our training have develop certain qualities of character in you needed for further future achievements,” she stated.