Abuja — First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajiya Turai Umaru 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).

Speaking during commissioning of the centre, Hajiya Yar'Adua said the project and the equipment are for the training of women and other patients affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.

According to her, 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 purpose of the training is to empower the women and the other patients, who visit the hospital regularly to be occupied with vocational training while accessing the services at the hospital," the first lady said.

In his opening remark, the Director-General of NDE, Malam Abubakar Mohammed, said that the directorate was delighted to collaborate with the first lady on the project.

He promised that NDE would provide the resource persons as well as pay the stipends of the trainees during the period of the training.