On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Caritas Nigeria, in collaboration with the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Owerri Archdiocese, hosted a graduation and empowerment ceremony for students who completed vocational training programs. These programs, offered free of charge, focused on fashion designing, cake baking and decoration, and information and communications technology (ICT).
The event took place at the JDPC Institute in Owerri, a center dedicated to equipping young people and young mothers with practical skills to combat the growing challenges of youth restiveness and unemployment. These challenges are often exacerbated by limited government investment in youth development. In response, this initiative empowers participants to become self-reliant and economically productive.
Graduates were not only celebrated for their achievements but were also provided with startup tools, including laptops, ovens, mixers, sewing machines, and Wi-Fi devices, to help them launch their own micro-enterprises and apply their newly acquired skills in real-world settings.
During the ceremony, Rev. Fr. Gerald Njoku, Director of the Owerri Archdiocesan JDPC, expressed deep gratitude to Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, the Archbishop of Owerri, for his unwavering support. He also acknowledged the vital contributions of sponsors and partners whose generosity continues to sustain the program.
