By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An initiative designed to bridge the skills gap in the leather and non-leather manufacturing industry has been launched by My World of Bags in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation.
The scheme, Kafawa Training Program, will empower beneficiaries, who are mainly youths and make them a formidable force in Africa’s leather and non-leather industries.
“There is a breadth of potential in the leather and non-leather manufacturing industries in Nigeria and yet, there is a lack of skilled hands to bring that potential to life,” Mrs Femi Olayebi, the Program Director and founder of My World of Bags, which is the parent company of FemiHandbags, stated.
She described the partnership with the Mastercard Foundation “as the perfect opportunity to achieve this, by not only equipping young Nigerians with the necessary skill sets to grow and expand the sector but also to enhance their own economic outcomes.”
“We are honoured to be driving this change, and we are committed to creating access for as many young people at the bottom of the pyramid as possible.
“We truly believe that there is dignity in working your way to the top, no matter how low you start, and we hope to begin to change mindsets and create a chain reaction,” she added.
My World of Bags is one of Africa’s leading luxury accessory brands and it launched Kafawa, which means establishment in Hausa to support the economic development plan of the government.
The program will kick-off its pilot edition in Oyo State and will launch a series of intensive courses in hard and soft skills, which attracted the support of the Mastercard Foundation.
The Program Lead, MSME Finance at the Mastercard Foundation, Ms Chioma Nwagboso, stated that, “The Mastercard Foundation is excited at the potential for Kafawa to create a new generation of young people with a changed mindset and new-found belief that production, tailoring and manufacturing can provide dignified and fulfilling work opportunities.”
