40 Wajir Women Graduate with Tailoring Skills Through County Initiative
By: Musa Bashir
In a powerful stride toward economic empowerment and gender equity, the Wajir Vocational Training Centre celebrated the graduation of 40 women who completed an intensive tailoring program supported by the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA).
The initiative stands as a beacon of transformative change in Wajir County, unlocking self-reliance and dignified livelihoods for local women.
As part of the program, TIKA provided 40 industrial electric sewing machines to help launch the women into sustainable entrepreneurship. The newly minted tailoring experts are already producing essential items including school uniforms, reusable sanitary towels and garments for both local use and commercial sale.
These products are not just vital to the community’s well-being but serve as an entry point into economic independence for the women.
Of particular significance is the production of reusable sanitary towels, an initiative geared toward supporting out-of-school girls. These products help address menstrual hygiene challenges, which often hinder school attendance. By enabling girls to stay in class and thrive academically, the graduates have become catalysts in reshaping the future of education for young women.
To ensure long-term impact, the 40 graduates will be retained at the Centre’s workshop. The County Government of Wajir, under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, has also directed the Department of Education to assist in forming a Community-Based Organization (CBO) that will allow the women to scale up their operations and access wider markets.
Habiba Abdullahi, one of the graduates, expressed heartfelt appreciation: “We are grateful to Wajir County Government led by Ahmed Abdullahi for this initiative. I enrolled in this institution, and now I am an expert in tailoring. This will help me support my family and provide for my children.” Habiba said.
Governor Abdullahi called on unemployed youth across the county to take advantage of vocational training opportunities, urging a shift away from overreliance on white-collar jobs.
“Practical skills are the engine of our local economy, The Wajir Vocational Training Centre is here to equip our youth with tools for self-employment and prosperity.” Governor said.
The ceremony also recognized the vital role of Wajir County’s First Lady, Rukia Abdinasir, whose advocacy and leadership made the initiative a reality and offered warm thanks to TIKA Country Director Yasemin Cansuz-Kurt for the agency’s steadfast partnership.
This milestone signals not just a graduation, but the beginning of a ripple effect for empowering communities, uplifting girls’ education and igniting economic growth one stitch at a time.
