After I graduated from the University of Akwa Ibom in 2017, I worked for myself, producing and training people on how to make perfumes and soaps. I was hawking some products on the street when I saw an advert for the Youth Employment Pathways (YEP) training. I decided to apply to be trained in plumbing and piping. I studied Mechanical Engineering, which is a similar field. At the time, most of my knowledge was theoretical and not practical, making it difficult to get a job in my field of study.
Through the YEP training, I gained practical plumbing and piping knowledge and secured jobs immediately. The soft skills training taught me to market myself appropriately to customers and get adequately paid for projects. I am more safety conscious on site to avoid hazards while working. My bookkeeping skills and client relationship have also improved. I can also deliver training to other people in construction. I recommend the YEP project to others because it changed my life.
