Recent statistics presented by a nongovernmental organization Cuso International has shown that between 2020 to 2024, 266,23 direct beneficiaries, 104,034 indirect beneficiaries from Cross River State, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria under 18 partners, have benefited from the Global Affairs Canada-funded Share project.
Our reporter who monitored the project found that most of these beneficiaries are females who have interest in skill development; such as Solar engineering or installation, Climate change, Mushroom farming, Fish processing, Liquid soap and perfume making and other endeavors; participants were drawn from Calabar, Ikom, Ogoja Lagos and Abuja.
The Beneficiaries also include a refugee woman from the republic of Cameron, residing in Ikom in Cross River State, she Identified herself as Ms Mbua Achicha Theriser, a mother of 3, who is now a proud mushroom farmer, earns a living and can sustain her family.
In her words, she said, “it was not easy, idis know that mushrooms can fetch me as much money as today, I my place mushrooms only grow in the bush, but today I have learnt a good business in mushrooms farming and selling, and I can take care of my three children without much stress.” She sounded excited, but she thanked the Cuso International for bringing her up to the awareness of a lucrative endeavor in mushroom farming.
One of the young girls, who is now Into Sola installation, which is a male dominated endeavor, Oluwakemi Awobola, from Lagos state, also testifies of how the event of meeting the Share project via Cuso International has impacted her life: “when I started, it was as if I won’t be able to do it, even my father was asking me; Kemi, how would you cope with this? But today I am doing well, and I am able to train others. I am open to work with any organization that needs my services, to help train others,” Kemi Testified.
The story is not different from other beneficiaries like: Arit Williams, Comfort Ikpi, Aliana Theriser and many others, who all praised the intervention project for availing them a means of livelihood.
Giving insights into the project, Programs officer, Praise Amaugo, Explained, that the “Sharing Canadian Expertise for inclusive development and gender equality (SHARE) project in Nigeria, is a global affairs Canada funded project aims at improving the economic and social wellbeing of the poorest and most marginalized, most of whom are women and girls.”
She added that the project is in pursuit of Sustainable development Goals number one, two, Three, thirteen, and seventeen: the beneficiaries in various skills enroll on training in all expense paid skill development training and are given starter packs.