FIC Report (Benue State) – The Benue Fashion Hub, commissioned by Kashim Shettima on August 27, 2024, in Makurdi, is fast becoming a key driver of skills acquisition and entrepreneurship in the state.
The world-class facility was established under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) scheme of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The project fulfills the administration’s promise of job creation and improved access to capital, while also celebrating the industrious spirit of the people of Benue State.
The ultra-modern hub is equipped with about 180 state-of-the-art sewing machines, including industrial straight sewing machines, weaving machines, and specialized design equipment. In addition to garment production, the facility also houses fully functional sections for hairdressing, makeup, and barbing.
Speaking on behalf of the Hub Manager, Hon. Erdoo Minan, a management staff member, Hembafa Philomena Tetegh, disclosed that over 300 youths have been trained in various fashion-related skills. These include garment making, crested designs, and badge production.
Training programmes run between three to six months, with opportunities for further skill upgrades.
She further revealed that instructors in the hub’s computer section received specialized training ahead of the programme’s full commencement to ensure quality delivery.
On funding, Tetegh explained that the hub operates as a business enterprise. Revenue generated from trainees’ tuition and large-scale sewing contracts for schools and organizations is used to sustain its day-to-day operations.
Also speaking, a fashion instructor, Mrs. Tofi Yuadoo, described the hub as a one-stop centre for fashion training, noting that all necessary tools for effective teaching and learning are readily available. She added that within her one year and four months at the facility, she has successfully trained children, youths, and adults.
A trainee, Kunav Terngu Benedict, described the hub as an excellent learning environment but called for an extension of the training duration to allow for more in-depth skill acquisition.
Another trainee, Mrs. Doowuese Ugba, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the initiative, noting that the subsidized tuition has made it possible for her to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. She observed that similar training elsewhere would cost significantly more.
However, she highlighted the challenge of inconsistent power supply, which affects learning activities, and appealed to the government to provide alternative power solutions to enhance the hub’s efficiency.
Members of the host community also commended the government for the project, noting that they benefit from the facility’s water supply. They, however, appealed for discounted access to some of the hub’s services.
The community further appreciated Hyacinth Alia for providing the land for the construction of the facility.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center FIC Makurdi
