Just a few weeks ago, Joy Aina had a dream but zero knowledge of baking. Today, she speaks with the confidence of a budding entrepreneur, equipped with a five-year plan to not just make a living, but to create something unique and impactful. Her transformation is not just a personal victory; it’s a powerful testament to a vision that is turning aspirations into reality for hundreds of people in Lagos.
Joy is one of over 400 graduates who recently celebrated the completion of a one-week Skill Acquisition Training (SAT) programme, an impactful initiative by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 35. The intensive programme, held from September 1st to 6th, was a vibrant hub of learning, where participants immersed themselves in skills ranging from the culinary arts of bread and cake making to the digital frontiers of coding, robotics, and marketing.
“When I joined, I had zero knowledge,” Joy shared, her excitement palpable. “But today, I can confidently say I’ve gained about 70% knowledge. Our facilitators were so thorough, and it wasn’t just about baking; we were also taught business skills like costing, marketing, and accountability.”
This holistic approach is the cornerstone of the programme’s philosophy. Demola Ogunfeyimi, Vice Chairman of the Empowerment Team, explained that the mission is rooted in a timeless principle. “As opposed to just handing out fish, we believe it is more effective and more beneficial to teach people how to fish,” he said. “Beyond taking care of themselves, they can also employ others.”
The church’s commitment doesn’t end with a graduation certificate. The SAT initiative includes a crucial next step: providing seed funding and mentorship to select graduates, ensuring they have the support needed to launch or scale their ventures. This creates a cycle of success stories that inspire future participants.
For over two decades, this programme has been a quiet force for socio-economic change. “This has been on for more than 20 years, with about 450 to 500 participants yearly,” noted Mr. Olatunde Adepoju, Head of the SAT programme. “The main objective is to make an impact both within and outside the church.”
He envisions a broader movement, a nation where empowerment is a collective responsibility. “Imagine if more churches, NGOs, and organizations replicate this across the country; the impact on our economy and society would be enormous,” Adepoju reflected, adding a call for stronger government support in areas like power infrastructure to help these new small businesses thrive.
As the 400 graduates step into the world, they carry more than just new skills in fashion design, catering, or digital marketing. They carry the tools of self-sufficiency, the knowledge to build sustainable businesses, and the hope of a brighter economic future for themselves and their communities. For Joy Aina and her peers, one week was all it took to bake a new dream.
