Glo Foundation’s Skillbridge Empowers LAWMA Sweepers with Vocational and Digital Skills

Glo Foundation’s Skillbridge Empowers LAWMA Sweepers with Vocational and Digital Skills

LAGOS, NIGERIA — In a bold move to transform the lives of street sweepers in Lagos, the Glo Foundation has launched the first phase of its Skillbridge programme, providing vocational and soft skills training to selected personnel of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The empowerment initiative, which commenced last week across various partner training centres in the state, is targeted at equipping sweepers with skills that will open up alternative income opportunities and improve their quality of life.

About 150 LAWMA sweepers are currently undergoing intensive four-week training in key vocational areas such as fashion designing, bead making, baking, and digital literacy. The programme is being implemented in partnership with several institutions, including Yetroslane Fashion Academy in Gbagada, Bakery Initiatives in Yaba, and ALX in Costain, among others.

According to the Glo Foundation, the Skillbridge initiative was conceived to bridge financial gaps for hardworking sanitation workers and create avenues for economic self-reliance.

“We are impressed with the progress recorded so far,” the Foundation said in a statement. “The commitment of the trainees is inspiring, and we believe these new skills will empower them to explore new income streams.”

During a visit to the fashion and bead-making classes at Yetroslane, trainees were seen eagerly engaging in practical sessions, with some already producing self-designed beads within just three days of training. Among them, Amusat Mopelola Airat and Liadi Fatimoh expressed deep appreciation to Glo Foundation and LAWMA for the opportunity to learn and grow.

The enthusiasm was mirrored at the baking training centre in Yaba, where participants are mastering techniques such as accurate measurement and flour mixing for various pastries. LAWMA supervisor, Mrs. Busari Adebanke Busayo, who is also enrolled in the programme, described the experience as life-changing. “This will be of huge benefit to me and my family,” she said.

Similarly, participants at the digital skills class in Costain are exploring the world of tech, coding, and online tools. Mr. Williams Oladipupo from Ikorodu praised the Foundation for helping him acquire skills that will boost his business and support his children’s interest in tech. Another participant, 22-year-old Miss Udoh Blessing Endurance Francis, noted that digital literacy is now essential for navigating today’s world.

The four-week training programme is scheduled to conclude in July, after which beneficiaries are expected to graduate with foundational skills that could pivot them into entrepreneurial or freelance opportunities.

Glo Foundation’s Skillbridge is part of a broader effort to promote inclusive development by investing in often-overlooked segments of society.