Students learn hands-on trade during vacation programme

About 1,200 students from different parts of the country gathered for a 12-day annual vacation course organized by Islamic Da’awah Group in Abuja. The programme was held at Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, with the theme “Let’s Work the Talk.” The programme was designed for youth and adults who wished to improve their knowledge in […]

About 1,200 students from different parts of the country gathered for a 12-day annual vacation course organized by Islamic Da’awah Group in Abuja.

The programme was held at Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, with the theme “Let’s Work the Talk.”

The programme was designed for youth and adults who wished to improve their knowledge in various subjects of studies as well as learn vocational skills from hands-on experience. 

Leader of the group, Alhaji Ismail Alatise, said the programme was organized in collaboration with other Islamic groups like Abuja Muslims Forum, Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness, (MICA) and Association of Muslim Graduates of University of Ife.

Alatise said the group brought the participants in one place during school holiday and teach them about their religion, peace building and citizenship.

 “This is an annual event and is the 21st edition. We have been organizing it yearly and we have done that consistently,” he said adding that the participants who were not below three years old learned more about Islamic knowledge and acquired entrepreneurial skills.   

According to him, the essence of the programme was to make the participants to be better citizens and responsible people and self reliant.

 “Many women have come with their babies; husbands have come with their wives and children. They participated actively and they have learnt a lot about Islam and other skills,”he said. 

According to him, the programme had helped in delivering essential services to help youth and families reach their full potential and that 

the group has registered hundreds of delegates from different parts of Abuja and other states for the event.

“So far we have registered about 1, 200 delegates and we are still getting people who are interested to participate,”Alatise said.

He said the programme  also included the teaching of entrepreneurship education because training was required in any career for people to successfully start their own businesses and to be employees.  Also, the skills associated with entrepreneurs, such as interpersonal communications are relevant and beneficial for day-to-day life.  

 Participants acquired various skills because entrepreneurial innovation was essential for a country to be globally competitive and created new jobs, he said.

He said the group designed the programme in such a way that the participants would be trained in various aspects of lives.

The programme also offered basic vocational skills such as carpentry to prepare participants to be self reliant. He said by doing so, the programme had empowered the people and reduced the level of poverty. 

Participants also gained knowledge about poultry farming which was said to be one of the lucrative businesses now. Participants leaned techniques of production of eggs and chicken.   

During the programme, students learned sustainable fish farming practices including sites for fish farming. They were told that raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures improves nutrition condition, increases employment opportunities and income.

Participants took part in personal hygiene courses.

He said the participants were expected to put to practice what they learnt during the programme.

Alhaji Alatise said the group had established a model Islamic school in Kubwa and the proceeds realized from the school were used to sponsor the programme and other activities.

“Every year from the proceeds we got from the school we set aside what we need to run this programme but of course some individuals donate,” he said.

One of the major challenges during the programme was the difficulty in controlling the participants most of whom were youth from different socio-cultural backgrounds.  

Also speaking, Alhaji Mutiullah Odelase, said that the group was formed about 20 years ago in Abuja due to dearth of Islamic activities and to improve moral values.

 He said one of the achievements of the group was establishment of the school in Abuja.

“In our school we have about 1,000 pupils and we employed over 150 teaching and non- teaching staff,”he added.

The group also organized seminar for married couples frequently.

Amatulla Busayr who came from Kwara State said that he gained experience on a lot of things during the vacation course.

 “I have learnt leadership ability. I worked with different people. This gave me an insight on team work and brotherhood in Islam,” he said.

Aisha Olorunfemi said she gained knowledge on how to tolerate the views of people.

Nafisat Sulaiman, 16, is a student of Almanar Primary School, Abuja who said, “I have learnt how to be more patient with my friends and everybody around me.”