Folasade James is a Director at the Centre for Research, Information and Media Development, (CRIMMD) Ejigbo, Lagos where she heads a Free Skills Acquisition Centre for Women. She is also the CEO of Kinpoju Design, a fashion outfit in Lagos. She relates to JOY NGWOLO how she makes a difference in the society by empowering women.
What is the initiative behind this project?
The idea came after my husband had a funny experience with a lady who visited him for financial help and offered her body for sex in order to feed her kids. The lady was a widow who claimed that after her husband’s death, almost all his friends slept with her before they could offer financial help. It was a shocking revelation for us as we tried to imagine how many women were going through such ordeals and that was when we decided that the only way to help was to set up a place where we could impact the lives of women by encouraging them to learn skills and equip them for challenges in case the unexpected happens. In February 2016, the free skills acquisition centre for women was established and I volunteered to manage the project. Initially, we made it strictly for married women and widows and we provided free teaching equipment and materials for practicals but by 2017, we could not afford to buy materials for everyone again, so we encouraged them to buy their own materials and then included young girls in the programme.
What skills are taught at the centre?
At the CRIMMD Free Skill Acquisition Centre for Women, we train women and girls on Tailoring/Fashion Designing, Computer Training, Catering, Bead Making, Soap making (liquid/tablet & detergents), Liquid Disinfectant Production, Hat making, Air Freshener Production, Germicide Production, Insecticide Production, Music, Make-up artistry, Ankara bags and shoe making.
How many beneficiaries have you recorded since its inception and what would you describe as your major achievement?
Our doors at the CRIMMD Free Skills Acquisition Centre for women have been open to the public. In 2016, the year we started, we trained 96 women. In 2017, we held 296 programmes and we trained a total of 1, 875 women in different skills. In 2018, we trained 2, 324 and this year, we have trained 1,917 women and girls. Since inception, we have trained 6, 212 women. Presently, we have two staff and other contract instructors who also assist in visiting schools to train girls and since 2016, we have visited 21 secondary schools for skill training programs. Our major achievement is that we make impact on the society by empowering women.
You run this programme for free, how do you generate funds to keep it going?
We run it from our personal income. My husband is a media consultant, a publisher and an author of over 20 books. The little resources he makes out of them is what we use in running the place. Although, it is sometimes challenging, we continue to strive to keep the project going.
What are the reactions of people to this programme and how has the turnout been?
People love it and they come around. It is just that sometimes some women come to demand for a particular skill and they want it for free, not minding our own timetable and we tell them that it is not possible except they want a special class for which they have to pay. But with over 6, 000 women and girls trained under 4 years, it has been massive. For those who wish to set up similar outlets, we are willing to support and advise too.
What are the challenges you face and how have you been able to manage them?
The challenge with doing business in Nigeria is always funding. There are some women who are so dedicated that we wish that by the time they are leaving, we could give them equipment like sewing machines but we cannot afford that for now and it is painful. Money to pay our staff’s salaries does not come easily. Thankfully, I have a cool headed deputy, Mrs. Jane Longe-Abiola who is fully in charge of the Tuesday Catering classes. She has been really supportive. Also, the local government officials come to harass us to pay for lock shop, despite our little contributions to make the society crime free, it is not fair.
Being the person in charge of the Tailoring class, what exactly do you teach the women in your class?
Our Tailoring/Fashion programme is practical. We start by teaching them how to paddle a machine before making them understand the human figure, size chart, measurement taking, designs and also how to make skirts, blouses, Iro and Buba, Bubu, Igbo Blouse, Butterfly Blouse, Peplum Blouse, and more. We have experts who visit occasionally to teach us marketing, sale techniques, web merchandising and customer relationship management in fashion business. Also, we have visiting instructors who come to teach the women and introduce new skills to them like how to make special tribal soups, how to bake special small chops and how to make new designs of trendy bags and shoes.
Are there any future plans for this programme?
The dream is that one day we will expand to have a bigger skills training institution and it is our hope that it will be run for free or at a subsidised rate. Presently, we are appealing for financial support, volunteer teachers and teaching equipment. We cannot do it alone; we need support to make the world a better place. Let us empower women to empower the nation.
