Cultural Empowerment For Taraba People

THE two-day capacity building/skills acquisition programme of the Federal  Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation held in Bali Taraba state last week  brought to the fore the ingenuity and creativity of Nigerian youths. Among the items put on display in the course of the programme were: Dyed clothing materials of varying colours; Aluminium mould pots; Hand weaved cardigans; Ceramic jugs and cups as well as tailor-made clothing materials. Cash prizes were given to two outstanding participants-Umar Babanana and Halima Isa. 25 artisans took part in the exercise.Earlier in his welcome address, the traditional ruler of Bali, Mai Murtabo Lamido Bakundi, Alhaji Musa Gidado, expressed the appreciation of his community to the Culture Ministry for empowering the youths in Bali economically and providing them with job opportunity by citing the Cultural Industries Project there. Alhaji Gidado was later taken round the Centre equipped with 12 Potters Wheels, 62 sewing machines (singer brand), 12 Knitting and weaving machines, Ceramic and Aluminium making facilities, a borehole, water overhead tank and hall for exhibitions among others.In his opening remark, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed represented  by Mr. Oluseyi Womiloju said that the people of Taraba State are lucky for the fact that it is the only state among the six states selected from the six geo-political zones of the country which has two centres- one in Bali and the second in Idi. He therefore told the youths of Taraba to seize the opportunity to excel. In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Mahe, represented by Mr. Bamidele Sobayo enjoined them to utilize the Centre to tap the abundant potentials and skills that abound in them noting that the Culture Ministry deemed it necessary to provide the enabling environment so as to keep the youths gainfully engaged in skills acquisition in the cultural heritage of the people especially those peculiar to the people of Taraba state.Areas covered by the workshop co-ordinated by Mrs. Lizzy Ihezue-Iwuamadi, Assistant Director in charge of Cultural Industries Project alongside other resource persons include: self confidence building; product packaging; marketing strategies; Service delivery and Book keeping/Accounts. 
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