Over 400 participants successfully graduated on Sunday from the one-week Skill Acquisition Training (SAT) programme organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 35, Gbagada. The initiative marked another step in the church’s mission to equip people with practical skills that foster self-sufficiency and economic impact.
The intensive training, held from September 1 to 6, offered a mix of vocational and business-focused sessions. Participants explored courses in catering, fashion design, digital marketing, coding and robotics, bread and cake making, tie and dye, and other entrepreneurial fields. The programme was designed not only to transfer technical skills but also to instil business knowledge needed to thrive in today’s economy.
Vice Chairman of the Empowerment Team, Demola Ogunfeyimi, explained the vision behind the project.
“As opposed to just handing out fish, we believe it is more effective and more beneficial to teach people how to fish. Beyond taking care of themselves, they can also employ others.
At each programme, apart from teaching them, we expose them to the practical part of the skills. We also have an initiative where, upon completion, selected participants are empowered with funds to either start or expand their businesses. These beneficiaries are monitored to ensure proper use of the resources, which in turn creates success stories that inspire others,” he said.
Head of the Skill Acquisition Training Programme, Mr. Olatunde Adepoju, highlighted that SAT has been running for over two decades, adapting over time to meet present realities.
“This programme has been on for more than 20 years, with about 450 to 500 participants yearly. The main objective is to make socio-economic impact both within and outside the church.
Beyond learning skills, we also ensure participants are taught business management essentials — how to market their products, manage staff, and run sustainable ventures. Imagine if more churches, NGOs, and organizations replicate this across the country; the impact on our economy and society would be enormous,” he said.
Adepoju also called on government to improve infrastructure, especially power supply, and encouraged more organisations to embrace initiatives like SAT to complement government efforts in supporting small businesses.
For many, the programme was life-changing. Joy Aina, the best graduating student from the bread and cake-making section, described her journey as a breakthrough.
“When I joined, I had zero knowledge of baking but today I can confidently say I’ve gained about 70% knowledge. Our facilitators were open-minded and thorough, which made learning exciting.
It wasn’t just about baking, we were also taught business skills like costing, marketing, and accountability. With dedication and further training, I see myself becoming an entrepreneur in the next five years, not just making money but creating something unique and impactful,” she said.
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