By JKNewsMedia
OVER 150 STREET sweepers from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) have completed intensive upskilling under the first phase of the Glo Skillbridge programme, marking a boosting step towards their personal development and economic empowerment.
A statement issued said the month-long initiative, led by Glo Foundation, provided participants with hands-on training in fashion design, bead making, baking, and digital technology.
Each module was carefully tailored to help participants build viable alternative income streams and foster self-reliance beyond their daily sanitation duties.
From stitching garments at YetrosLane Fashion Academy in Gbagada to learning the nuances of cost management at Bakery Initiatives in Yaba, the sweepers embraced every lesson with tenacity and enthusiasm.
Their transition from street sweeping to skill mastery echoed across each training site, underpinned by a shared determination to grow beyond limitation.
At the digital skills centre coordinated by ALX, learners like Endurance Francis embraced technology as a gateway to future careers. “It’s a life-changing experience,” she said, noting the newfound confidence and capabilities gained through the course.
For Mrs Suliat Ojulari, who had never handled a computer before, the journey was even more remarkable. She now uses digital tools with ease, embodying the programme’s purpose: to show that transformation is possible at any stage of life.
Trainers and coordinators also praised the participants’ commitment. At the fashion academy, Mr Ogunmade Johnpaul Tobi highlighted the students’ willingness to learn, while baking coordinator Omotola Akinsanya was moved by their resilience and engagement, regardless of formal education.
Damilola Ilemobayo, one of the trainees, summed up the mood among many of her peers. “My skill as a fashion designer has improved. I can’t wait to show the world all I’ve learnt. May God continue to bless Globacom,” she said.
Ilemobayo notes that as the training phase concludes this week, a graduation ceremony will cap the experience, to celebrate the achievements of participants and reinforcing Glo Foundation’s commitment to community upliftment, adding that the Skillbridge programme now stands as a model for how targeted support can unlock potential and reshape futures, one skill at a time.
