ZME Women Development Centre graduation sees 49 students complete skills training for widows and orphans at EYN Headquarters Kwarhi.
EYN – Church of the Brethren in Nigeria’s ZME Women Development Centre has graduated 49 students after completing training in vocational and practical skills designed to promote self-reliance among young widows and orphans.
The annual graduation ceremony was held on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the EYN Headquarters, Kwarhi, and was attended by the EYN Vice President and members of the National Standing Committee.
The programme brought together church leaders, staff, families and well-wishers to celebrate the achievements of the graduating students and encourage them as they begin applying their skills in their communities.
The ZME Women Development Centre focuses particularly on supporting young widows and orphans through practical education and skills acquisition.
The centre provides training intended to equip participants with knowledge that can help them establish small businesses, generate income and become more self-reliant.
The 49 graduating students received training in several areas, including sewing, knitting, cake making, perfume production, liquid fertilizer, Vaseline, shampoo and Izal production.
Graduates Receive Working Tools
As part of the graduation programme, the students were presented with working tools and materials to support them as they transition from training to practical application.
The items included sewing machines, cake-making materials and other tools related to the skills they acquired during their training.
Five students who recorded the highest scores were also presented with knitting machines. They were Comfort John, Kauna Yakubu, Usa Luka, Felicia Joseph and Hauwa Aminu.
ZME Women Development Centre Graduation Highlights Support for Widows and Orphans
The ceremony was hosted by the ZME National Director (Uwa), Mrs. Martha D. David, while the Principal of the Women Development Centre, Mrs. Ruth Ishaya, served as host.
Dr. Nuhu Bathan Malgwe chaired the occasion, with Mrs. Rhoda Isa and Mrs. Hyellamada Sunday serving as chairpersons.
The presence of the EYN Vice President and members of the National Standing Committee highlighted the church’s support for the centre and its work among vulnerable women and young people.
ZME Director Appreciates EYN Leadership and Mission 21
In her remarks, Mrs. Martha D. David expressed appreciation to the EYN President and church leadership for what she described as their fatherly love, support and advice to the centre.
She also acknowledged the contribution of Mission 21, particularly Dr. Yakubu Joseph, for his continued support towards the Women Development Centre.
Mrs. David urged the graduates to apply their knowledge responsibly as they leave the centre.
She encouraged them to be wise and security-conscious, warning them not to misuse the opportunities created through their training.
She also challenged the graduates to make practical use of the skills and knowledge they had acquired and use them to improve their lives and contribute to their communities.
Principal Encourages Graduates to Apply Their Knowledge
Mrs. Ruth Ishaya congratulated the graduates and described their completion of the programme as an important milestone.
She encouraged them to remain committed to good work and responsible living as they move into the next stage of their lives.
The principal drew her advice from Deuteronomy 29:9, quoting in Hausa:
“Saboda haka sai ku kiyaye, ku aikata dukan zantuttukan wannan alkawari don ku azurta cikin dukan abin da za ku yi.”
The message urged the graduates to remain faithful to their responsibilities and apply what they have learned as they pursue their future activities.
EYN Vice President Urges Graduates to Demonstrate Their Potential
The EYN Vice President encouraged the graduates to demonstrate the potential they carry as they return to their communities.
He urged them to put God first in their businesses and make responsible use of the skills they had acquired at the centre.
He said the training had equipped the graduates with practical abilities and encouraged them to allow their communities to see the value of what they had learned.
The Vice President also encouraged the students to approach their future activities with commitment, responsibility and faith.
The graduation produced several practical outcomes:
- 49 students completed their training.
- Graduates acquired vocational skills in sewing, knitting, cake making and the production of household and personal-care products.
- Graduates received working tools and materials to help them apply their skills.
- The five highest-scoring students received knitting machines.
- The programme reinforced the church’s commitment to skills development for young widows and orphans.
- Graduates were encouraged to establish productive livelihoods and contribute positively to their communities.
The work of the ZME Women Development Centre reflects a broader emphasis on practical support for vulnerable members of society.
For young widows and orphans, access to vocational skills can provide opportunities to develop sustainable sources of income and reduce dependence on others.
The provision of working tools alongside training is particularly significant because it gives graduates practical resources with which to begin applying what they have learned.
The programme also strengthens the church’s community-focused mission by combining spiritual encouragement with practical skills development.
As the 49 graduates leave the Women Development Centre, church leaders encouraged them to use their training wisely, remain security-conscious and build productive lives within their communities.
The graduation also marks the beginning of a new stage for the students, who are now expected to translate their skills and knowledge into practical opportunities.
The ZME Women Development Centre’s continued focus on vocational training, particularly for young widows and orphans, provides a pathway through which vulnerable women and young people can gain skills, pursue economic opportunities and contribute to their families and communities.
💬 Join the Conversation