Gerbera Care Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that focuses on the girl-child and missionary children, on Wednesday began ‘Upskill 2022, a soft skill training for secondary school students in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Its Chairperson, Mrs Seyi Adeyera, said the goal of Gerbera Care Foundation was to prepare teenagers for adulthood by equipping them with skills needed to confidently navigate social, academic and professional situations.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the foundation received approval from the Lagos State Government to carry out the training in nine secondary schools at the axis.
They are: Anthony Village Senior High School, Ayedere-Ajibola Senior High School, Ketu, Community Senior Secondary School, Ketu, Comprehensive Senior High School, Ketu, Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School.
Others are: Immaculate Heart Senior High School, Mende Senior High School, Maryland, Ogudu Senior Grammar School and Ojota Senior Secondary School, Ojota.
Adeyera said the foundation would provide empowerment tools aimed at supporting the welfare and health of the girl-child for personal growth, as part of its contribution in the fight to eradicate physical and mental poverty among the younger generation.
She added that the foundation was committed to creating awareness on cervical and breast cancer among the girl child at large and would carry out advocacy on the importance of human papillomavirus(HPV) vaccination in non sexually active girl-child.
She said the training would cover etiquette, communications skills, leadership skills, teamwork, breast and cervical cancer awareness and free testing, organisation skills, community service, sex and sex abuse.
Others, she said, were critical thinking, chess games, mental health, emotional intelligence and responsibility.
“We believe that one of the ways we can contribute towards the fight against physical and mental poverty is by equipping young children with soft skills that are profitable in the world today.
“The girl-child is a significant being with so much deposited in her, besides becoming a wife or woman when all conditions are right, especially in this age and time.
“She is the channel through which the balance of human existence is built upon hence, we are passionate to see to their welfare especially their health.
“To this end, we are passionate about creating awareness on cervical and breast cancer and other female related health issues among secondary students and the female gender at large.
“We are as well particular about the importance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in non sexually active girl child.
“The Upskill 2022 starts today at Government Senior Secondary School, Ogudu and we are calling on well meaning Nigerians to support this cause,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr Dare Ogunleye, popularly known as Dare Chess, pledged his commitment to teaching the students the benefits of the game of chess as his contribution to the Upskill Project.
“It is a harmony of the body, mind, and spirit; when one is free from physical and mental distractions that the gates of creativity, responsibility and positive action is opened.
“In line with Gerbera Care foundation’s mission, we would continue to promote all round enrichment to our target audience by providing educational supports and every tool necessary for personal growth and development,” he said.
Mrs Clara Adebayo, Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Ogudu, commended the development aimed at positively impacting the lives of the pupils and gaining their interests in productive things.
She urged the organisers to include more knowledge edifying games such as scrabble to the mix to further equip the children to be at par with their counterparts globally.