The Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr. Sunday Archer, disclosed this in Enugu while fielding questions from newsmen during the first-anniversary celebration of the Foundation.
He noted that the Foundation was established with the sole aim of empowering unemployed young Nigerians and the less privileged through skill acquisition programs to reduce unemployment and enhance economic growth.
His words: "One Mind Friends Empowerment Foundation, OFEF, is non-profit oriented. It is neither politically motivated nor business inclined. The Foundation rather aims to better the lives of the vulnerable in society as a home for empowering the less privileged. We intend to achieve this through our series of public lectures, seminars, and workshops for our target populace."
Mr. Archer said the Foundation also aims to touch the lives of no fewer than two hundred and fifty unemployed and less privileged individuals in Nigeria through its various empowerment programs, before the end of the first quarter of year 2025, adding that over seventy-five young Nigerians have already benefitted from its free ICT training, in the past one year.
He further advised Nigerian parents to avail their children of the opportunity of free computer training to enrich their knowledge of ICT and described computer literacy as a basic instrument of manpower development.
The Executive Director, however, said the Foundation was saddled with some logistic challenges in the past year of its operations. He called on government and public-spirited individuals to assist the Management with funds to ensure efficient service delivery to the people.
According to him, "This foundation came into place exactly one year ago. The Nigerian environment has been safe for our operations, but a major challenge before us is that of logistics. We need funds to buy computers for the office. We need at least one operational vehicle Above all, we need an office space because we are tenants here."
Addressing some of the pioneer beneficiaries of the free ICT training program during the first-anniversary celebration, Mr. Archer announced that certificates would be issued to the first batch of graduates in an award ceremony billed for December 16, 2024, in Enugu.
"This batch of the beneficiaries of our free computer training will receive their certificates on that day as we conclude this year's business. I thank you, people, for your patience. I appreciate you in a very special way, for being part of this historic event. Today, history is made as we celebrate the first anniversary of our existence and successful operations in this part of the world. I also want to assure you that this is just the beginning, as there are more packages for you," he emphasized.
Archer further urged the beneficiaries to help the Foundation in spreading the message. He noted that the primary objective of the Organisation was to upgrade the living standards of the poor and helpless by making them self-reliant through its various skill acquisition programs.
