By Ragan M. Conteh
The United Tailors Development Association ,an umbrella group of tailors in the country has on Monday ,27th January,2020 turned out a total of twenty six (26) graduants after going through both theoretical and practical trainings at the IAMTECH College in Freetown.
The grand certification ceremony took place at the Word of Faith Cinema, Bundu Lane in the east end of Freetown.
Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Strategic Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) and Investment Services, Mr. Abubakarr Bangura said the United Tailors Development Association was formed in 2000.
The Strategic Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) and Investment Services is a lead sponsor of the United Tailors Development Association.
Their vision according to the CEO is to discover entrepreneurs and use tailoring as one among the main avenues for empowering the youths.
The graduation ceremony according to him is the first since the association was formed.He expressed his thanks and appreciation to IAMTCH University especially Lecturers for been so helpful in impacting knowledge to the beneficiaries.
The CEO had also used the occasion to express his satisfaction to the executive of Untied Tailors Development Association for the invaluable contributions towards the progress of the association.
He officially informed members of the Association that, his SEP investment Services will provide a sound and sustainable micro finance scheme to the beneficiaries.
The scheme according to him will not only be limited to physical cash but packages such as Sewing Machines and other logistical support.This he noted will serve as start-up kits for the 26 grandaunts.
Mr. Bangura has also lamented that SEP Investment Services has provided benefits for over 28 Students from Limkokwing University quite recently.
Interns from the Minor International Entrepreneurship and Development, Netherlands which have included Laura De Bruine,Sasvia Van Howen and Nienue Kloosterman noted that their visit to Sierra Leone was to enhance teaching guidance, advisory, document reporting and business plan for tailoring institutions.
The expressed their appreciation towards the experiences they have been able to gain while in Sierra Leone largely attributing it to the Strategic Entrepreneurship Program.
They singled out the SEP CEO for his invaluable disposition to accommodate them during their stay in the country.
Chairman,United Tailors Development Association, Bishop Sulaiman Kargbo expressed great pleasure to be part of the ceremony and bestowed special praises on the CEO Mr. Abubakarr Kargbo for creating the enabling environment for the beneficiaries to complete their training.
Bishop Kargbo further noted that, in spite of the numerous challenges the grandaunts had faced during their program they have still went on pursue their various courses.
Representative from various companies including Bai Bureh Fashion Tailoring Limited, Tamaraneh Company and Fashion Designing Company made presentations on how they intend to put together short and long term plans from the experiences gained in the training
A lecturer from IAMTECH, Mr. Sesay spoke on the importance of the training to the beneficiaries.
Several members have also expressed similar sentiments,the climax of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries.