SAPELE/Nigeria: No fewer than over 250 graduates of the “Dafinone Foundation” who graduated from various skill acquisition programmes from across Sapele, Ethiope West and Okpe Local Government Areas of Delta State respectively, have been empowered with starter packs and certificates.
The founder of the foundation, Chief Ede Dafinone, a chartered accountant and the son of late Chief D.O.D. Dafinone, who addressed journalists at the 9th graduation ceremony of the foundation at Okpe Community hall, Olympia roundabout in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State said, “the foundation started in 2006 when I was contesting primaries for a senatorial position in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP”.
Chief Dafinone who presented starter packs and certificates to beneficiaries who graduated in skills such as tailoring, catering, hair dressing, welding aluminum works, electrical works, computer application etc revealed further that when he lost the primaries, one Miss Victoria Obakpolor, the chairperson of “Dafinone Foundation” was with him from the beginning.
“If I lost the primaries that doesn’t mean I won’t help my people. If you truly want to help people, it is not only by been senator or governor.
You can help them no matter where you are”, he said.
He also stated that the program was done in Ethiope West, Okpe, but Sapele is the most consistent one, and that the foundation started with micro finance but it came to a time where people were not able to manage the loan given to them and so they decided to give them skills, so that they can be gainfully employed.
He added that the foundation has extended the scheme to welding, aluminum works, electrical works and also computer appreciation to accommodate more people with different interest and that so far the foundation has empowered over 500 women and thousands of youths in Sapele, Okpe and Jesse communities and its environs.
He however encouraged the graduating students to take their skills seriously and make sure they empower themselves, family and their environment. “We want to teach you how to fish and not to give you fish. Our vision is for you to. Find a better life through the skills empowerment. As you graduate today, take your skills with you because no one can take it from you. Use your skills to empower yourself, family and your environment” he added.
Ven. O. Oyibo, the minister in charge of the St. Luke Cathedral, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, during his speech, thank Chief Ede Dafinone for his contribution in assisting students, adding that what politicians couldn’t do, is what Ede is doing, while advising the grandaunts to be serious in their empowerment.
Mrs. Charity Umukoro, one of the grandaunts who also expressed her sincere thanks to God almighty for a successful graduation ceremony, described Chief Ede Dafinone as “a man worth emulating, a man that is always there to help the youth” and called on the government to Assist him to encourage more youths, especially the jobless ones because, it’s not easy for just one man to empower such number of youths” she said.
Mr. Alfred Ofuafo, who also received starter packs from Welding and Fabrication Department and a certificate from Dafinone, appealed to Deltans to advise Dafinone to go into elective position so that he can have more finances to take care of Deltans, pointing out that “if Dafinone can do this to people without government money, it implies that more Nigerians will benefit from him, if he holds political office in the country”.
