The Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF) has flagged off its UNESCO supported incentivized pilot Schools Sewing Championship Project 2023 (SSCP 2023) for secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during the flag off in Abuja, the Executive Director of LMF, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, said the initiative was designed to sensitize the general public and targeted stakeholders on the benefits of vocational education and livelihood skills development.
She said the pilot sewing contest will draw 54 participants from schools across the six area councils of the FCT who will undergo a 5-day intensive training at a boot camp after which three winners will emerge.
Osikoya said participants and participating schools that will emerge first, second and third positions at the end of the competition will get sewing machines and sewing equipment as prizes.
According to her, the targeted beneficiaries/groups include young adults aged 12-20 years who are enrolled in both formal learning centres (JSS and SSS) and out of school youths or learners in non-formal learning centres in Abuja.
She said the initiative will contribute to sharpening perception and reducing stigmatization associated with vocational education, while at the same time providing a credible interactive platform to incentivize young adults of school age to commit to acquisition of functional vocational skills.