One hundred and fifty students recently graduated from the Fajara Skills Development Centre (FSDC) after the completion of courses such as cookery, hairdressing, sewing and tailoring, amongst others.

The skilled young men and women are now prepared with the relevant know-how to contribute their quota to national development, especially in working towards the goal of self-employment.

Speaking at the occasion, the proprietress of the Center, Jean Able Thomas, described the graduation as historic in the annals of the centre in that all the grandaunts have successfully completed the rigorous academic programme which enabled them to acquire skills in the aforementioned fields. "What we are witnessing today is a fusion of collaborative efforts from different organisations such as the Gamjobs, National Training Authority (NTA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), amongst others," she added.

Thomas reminded the graduating students that they are part of the trail blazers of the FSDC, noting that the world outside would see the school through them. "This is a noble, but challenging responsibility. The way you comport yourselves and the achievements you will make, will no doubt have an effect on FSDC," she said.

She asserted that FSDC and its partners have given to the graduates the opportunity in skills acquisition for sustainable development, saying "you all are now equipped with skills needed to improve your livelihoods".

In her keynote address at the occasion, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Employment and Regional Integration, Nafie Barry, who was the guest speaker, dilated on the significance of skill acquisition to the socio-economic development of the country. This, she underscored, is the rationale behind government's prioritisation of skills development for the employment of women and youths.

"Most of the skilled areas are mainly dominated by foreigners, but if we invest in youths and women, we will become economically self-sufficient," she concluded.