A total of 350 graduands of the Caring Family Enhancement (CAFE) Initiative programme has been empowered by the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Eberechukwu Obiano.

The graduands, had in the past months been engrossed in the training of various skills by Mary Sumner vocational institute, owned by the Anglican Church, under the sponsorship of CAFE.

The skills include tailoring and fashion designing, soap making, bakery, and bead making.

Addressing the graduands at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Mrs. Obiano said that her major calling in life was to cater for the needy, adding that she has carried out the tasks diligently, even before her husband became governor.

She said: “I do not want to know if you are from Anambra or not, but so long as you reside in Anambra, our goal is to make you self-sufficient. I know that a lot of you here are not from Anambra, but because you reside here, we must empower you.

“I am particularly happy that most of this year’s graduands are women. This is the fifth batch, and we have trained a total of 4,350 persons in various vocations.

“Women must be given the opportunity to work and complement the role of their husbands in the house. I am empowering you today to go and succeed, so that you will not only sit and eat your husband’s wealth, but partake in creating them.”

Equipment given to the graduands for their preferred vocation includes laptops, sewing machines, ovens, dryers, among others.

They were also given N20,000 as startup capital and additional N2,000 to take home their equipment.

Speaking on the recent feud between the state government and the Anglican Church, the governor’s wife described it as the handiwork of some enemies.

Recall that the Anglican Church and the state government had disagreed over the ownership of Bishop Crowther Primary school in Onitsha.

The tussle subsequently led to priests of the church protesting in front of the Government House Gate with placards.

Mrs. Obiano insisted that the relationship that from existing between the State Government and the Anglican Church was beyond mere friendship, but transcends to a marriage.

She added: “No one can put asunder in that marriage. Do not mind what the enemies are doing, we remain committed our relationship with the church.”

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