Skills Acquisition: MDRF Sponsors Youths in Fashion Design Training
As part of activities to fulfil its mandate of empowering the less privileged in Nigeria, the Michael Dato Relief Foundation (MDRF) sponsored some youths in fashion design training at the prestigious Kamieo Kreations Fashion School, Abuja.
A total of ten youths embarked on the 4-month intensive and practical training in fashion design early June 2021 and successfully graduated. Certificates of participation were issued to them at the graduation ceremony organized by the management of Kamieo Kreations Fashion School, Abuja.
In a short address to the graduating students during the occasion, the President of MDRF, Deaconess Helen Umar admonished them to be cautious of the time factor when relating with their clients. She regretted that many fashion house owners lost vital clients due to the bad habit of not keeping to time of delivery, thus leading to disappointments. She said MDRF sponsored some of the youths as part of the objectives of the organization to empower youths in skills acquisition and vocational training. She commended the CEO of Kamieo Fashion School, Mr. Ikenna Okereke, on the successful completion of the training for the youths. The MDRF President also thanked the training director of Kamieo Fashion School, Miss Mercy Omale for her patience and diligence while imparting the skill to the students.
Some of the graduands expressed their joy and excitement at completing the training programme despite the several challenges they had to overcome. According to one of them, “I had to combine this training with my work and post graduate studies. But I thank God and the Foundation, I was able to scale through. I really appreciate my family for the support and encouragement.”
A major highlight of the graduation ceremony, was when each of the graduands were given few minutes to exhibit some of the clothes they made. They also shared their personal testimonies as well as the challenges they surmounted during the period of their training.
Earlier in his welcome speech at the occasion, the Managing Director/CEO of Kamieo Kreations, Mr. Okereke described the fashion industry as one of Nigeria’s fastest growing industries. He said, “Nigerians are gradually moving towards skill acquisition and vocational training. The issue in this country and even all over the world now is: what can you do especially in the absence of white collar jobs? Look, in few years’ time the fashion industry will dominate Nigeria’s business climate.” The ex-banker said his passion for the creative industry and the need to empower the next generation of youths led him to establish Kameo Kreations and Kameo Fashion School.