By Magnus Effiong
6000 members and non members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have benefitted from what the Church described as Education Fair which showcased welfare service initiatives, scholarships, employment, internship and career opportunities to mostly youths and women.
The event, which took place in Calabar at the weekend, drew large participants with resource persons from Ghana such as Tamara Edi Dadson, a Family Services Specialist and William Boakye, Perpetual Education Fund loans Specialist taking part.
Other specialists who were on hand to give knowledge were Eleazor U.Ikpegbu, an S&I online Department of Brigham Young University (BYU), Uyo Zone Leader, Charles A. Adebayo, the Regional Welfare & Self- Reliance Manager, Victor Ukorebi, the International Area Manager for Africa West of BYU-Pathway Worldwide as well as Christian Onovughe, Welfare and Self-Reliance Manager, Uyo Coordinating Council.
Akwaowo Joseph Ekong, President Calabar North Stake who spoke during the flag off of the event, said participants were drawn from Calabar North Stake, Calabar Stake and Calabar South Stake as well non-members across the metropolis.
“The estimated beneficiaries should be in the region of 6,000. This is to expose members and even non-members to some basic skills that can help them become self reliant in their various undertakings,” he stated.
In his remarks, Samuel Ukoha, the Calabar Nigeria South Stake President said the prgramme was in line with the Church’s strong belief in education and that the “Education Fair aims to teach members the principles of work which is essential to man’s eternal progression.”
Alex Nkoro, the Calabar Nigeria Stake President, who also bared his mind on the importance of the event added “the essence is for us to educate our members and even non members on the need of education and skills.
“For the programme to be useful to attendees, we invited specialists from Ghana, Lagos and outside the continent to help people become self reliant both spiritually and temporarily. The package includes emotional resilience classes where they learn how to manage their emotions so they could be mentally sound in the things they do.
“We also have Seminary and Institute which boils down to spiritual self reliance where they learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and other programmes. Others have to do with skills acquisition like baking, pastry, computer repairs and maintenance, graphics and may other packages,” he said.
For Samuel Egbala, the permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Youths and Skills Acquisition, government would continue to partner with the Church in the area of skills acquisition, while Alhaji Shabaan Abdullahi, the Secretary of the Muslim Community in Cross River urged participants to make good use of the opportunity to learn so as to improve their lives.
