some entrepreneurs and trainers participating at the International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo have lauded the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for organising the catch them young programme on arts and crafts.
The founder, Wumi African Textile, Mrs Adekunle Wumi, Cosmetologist Faith Osagie and Chief Executive Officer, Glorious Craft, Mrs Gloria Uduebo, made the commendation in Abuja on Saturday.
They said this in seperate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the three-day INAC Expo in Abuja.
Uduebo, who is also a hairdresser and bead maker, said that the catch them young programme for children and younger ones was commendable.She added that skills acquisition training would keep them busy and prevent them from engaging in crimes.
“NCAC thought it wise that if we train these children on different crafts making, it will remain with them and keep them busy to the extent that they will not think about crimes,” Uduebo said.
Also, Wumi, a local fabric producer known as “Aso Oke”, urged the youths to learn how to become entrepreneurs, saying that it pays than looking for government’s jobs.
“There is no work that is lucrative like handwork. In fact, nothing pays like handwork because working with an organisation or government can stop at any time but handwork proceeds from generation to generation.
“I just want to advise the youths of this generation to look out for what they can do with their hands and not depend what government can give them.
“Government can give them jobs but at the end of 35 years, they are out of the job but this local fabric handwork when they are on it, it will remain with them.
“For me, the income I get from the sale of this local fabric product is very encouraging because my family feeds and school from it, she said.
Also speaking, Osagie, a cosmetologist and perfumer urged the youths to learn vocational skills to get their hands busy.
“First of all, I’m a graduate and I did not wait to finish school before I learnt this handwork. I was even making money with my skill while schooling at the same time.
“Our youths should not wait for lucrative jobs to come, it will not come but if they get their hands busy, they will get something out of it,” she said.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
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