GEMS3, Hausen partner to empower women entrepreneurs

Growth and Employment in States (GMES3) and Hausen Limited have partnered to empower women in the construction industry through their Construction Skills Training and Economic Programme (C-STEMP) initiative.

The objective of the initiative is to help break gender stereotypes in the construction industry.

“Our partnership is to break the paradox of high unemployment and poverty in the midst of a severe shortage of skilled manpower in the construction sector,” said Annabel Rusbridge-Thomas, GEMS3 communication adviser.

“C-Stemp is working to address the challenges of national unemployment and has so far trained 130 artisans, developed training manuals and DVDs for seven trades,” she said.

Rusbridge-Thomas stated that the initiative had already got approval and recognition from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). ”We look forward to continuing our work with the initiative, which is providing improved economic opportunities for men and women across Nigeria,” she said.

The trainees will take part in a 12-week programme consisting of two weeks intensive theory work and 10 weeks supervised practical activities.

During the intensive training work, participants will be given insights into a number of trades like painting, tiling, electrical and plumbing, before being given the option to select their area of specialty.

“Gender is a huge issue in the construction industry. To men, we cannot carry what they can carry and do what they can do but this is a lie. I love painting and mixing colours, and this training has given me the courage to carry it out,” Faith Afowowe, a 16-year-old student of C-Stemp.

Juliet Musa, also undergoing the training currently, said the biggest challenge for women in the sector was gender discrimination.

After the completion of the training, participants will be connected to potential employers.

GEMS3 is a Department for International Development (DFID) intervention programme to deliver a systematic framework that will make it easier to do business in Nigeria, leading to lasting improvements in economic opportunities for the poor, especially women.

Josephine Okojie