Francis Okeke
11 November 2009
Abuja — First Lady Turai Yar'adua has set up a skills acquisition centre at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, for the training of special patients in income generating trades by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
A press statement signed by the NDE's Assistant Director of Information Nnamdi Asomugha quoted the First Lady as saying during the commissioning of the project that the equipment at the centre are for the training of women and other special patients affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS).
Hajiya Turai Yar'adua said that the materials for the skills acquisition were donated by wives of the seven Governors from the North-West zone and had been distributed to eight centres, including Abuja.
"The essence of the training is to empower the women and other patients who visit hospital regularly to be occupied with vocational training while accessing the services at the hospital', the First Lady said.
In a brief remark at the occasion, the Director-General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, said that the Directorate was delighted to collaborate with the office of the First Lady on the skills training centre.
He said that the NDE would provide the resource persons as well as pay the stipends of the trainees during the period of the training.
"In addition, the trainees" Mallam Abubakar Mohammed said, "would be posted trainees to other NDE training outlets in Abuja when necessary."
The First Lady took a tour of the centre and interacted with some of the beneficiaries. She also inspected a mini exhibition mounted by people affected by HIV/AIDS from Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were the Director-General of the National Action Committee on Aids (NACA) as well Executive Secretary of Health Services in the Federal Capital Territory.
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