By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
Zion Praise Tabernacle, in collaboration with the Victorious School of Empowerment, has successfully graduated forty-five young women during the maiden Skills Training Graduation Ceremony held on Saturday, 6th June 2026, at Zion Praise Tabernacle, Bottom Mango, Hill Station.
The event, which was held under the theme: “From Skills To Sustainable Businesses,” brought together religious leaders, education stakeholders, parents, guardians, church members and well-wishers to celebrate the achievements of the graduates, who successfully completed training in Cake Baking, Makeup Artistry, Fashion and Design, Event Planning, Decoration and Hairdressing.
The colourful ceremony was chaired by the Public Relations Officer of the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), Koma Nancy Yeawa Gandy-Williams, who commended the organizers for investing in the future of young women and helping to build a more self-reliant society.
Present at the ceremony were the General Overseer of Zion Praise Tabernacle, Pastor James Bangura, Pastor Mrs. Esther Bangura, the Proprietors of the Victorious School of Empowerment, Col. and Mrs. Boima Nepor Gogra, parents, guardians and supporters who turned out in large numbers to witness what many described as a significant step towards women empowerment and self-reliance.
Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Editor of The Calabash Newspaper, Amin Kef Sesay, congratulated the graduates on reaching an important milestone in their lives, describing the ceremony as not merely the end of a training programme but the beginning of a journey towards economic independence and community transformation.
He noted that the theme of the ceremony was timely because acquiring a skill alone is not enough unless it is transformed into a sustainable business capable of creating wealth and employment opportunities.
Amin Kef reminded the graduates that the practical skills they have acquired in Cake Baking, Makeup Artistry, Fashion and Design, Event Planning, Decoration and Hairdressing are valuable assets that could positively change their lives if applied with creativity, discipline and commitment.
He encouraged them to embrace the opportunities offered by modern technology, particularly social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, stressing that digital platforms had become powerful business tools for marketing products and services, building brands and reaching wider audiences.
The investigative journalist also underscored the importance of financial discipline, advising the graduates to separate personal and business finances, maintain proper records, cultivate a savings culture and continuously reinvest profits into their enterprises. According to him, many businesses fail not because of a lack of customers but because of poor financial management.
He further emphasized the value of networking and collaboration, urging the graduates to build strong relationships with mentors, customers, suppliers and fellow entrepreneurs, adding that partnerships and professional connections often open doors to new opportunities and long-term success.
Amin Kef also encouraged the graduates to remain honest, professional and committed to quality service, pointing out that integrity and reliability are essential ingredients for building successful and sustainable businesses.
He concluded by telling the graduates that their certificates represented more than proof of completion, describing them as symbols of opportunity, responsibility and potential. He urged them to use their newly acquired skills to create jobs, support their families, transform their communities and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Addressing the gathering, the General Overseer of Zion Praise Tabernacle, Pastor James Bangura, heartily congratulated all the graduates and disclosed that when the training programme commenced three months ago, there were seventy-four students enrolled, but only forty-five successfully completed the course.
He told the graduates that the ball is now in their court, adding that there is a popular saying that if one succeeds or fails, it is one’s own responsibility. Pastor James Bangura stressed that the knowledge and practical skills they had received during the three months of training should make the organizers proud and should be used to benefit their families, communities and the nation as a whole.
The General Overseer emphasized that with the skills they had acquired, they should no longer become liabilities or burdens to anyone. He disclosed that God had given him a mission to empower young people and explained that the substantial amount of money invested in the programme was intentional and motivated by a desire to serve humanity.
He further stated that in contemporary society it is not easy for a man to give a woman money freely and therefore admonished the graduates to become self-reliant and never sell their bodies for survival. Pastor James Bangura also encouraged them to remain God-fearing, resist temptations and be prayerful, adding that they should serve as responsible and productive citizens in their communities.
He commended the sacrifices made by the instructors, revealing that some of them travelled long distances to ensure that the participants received quality practical education. Congratulating the graduates on behalf of the Church and his family, Pastor James Bangura described them as the first batch of what he hopes will become a long-standing programme and expressed optimism that the initiative would continue for as long as Jesus lives. He also expressed the hope that other ministries would emulate the initiative of empowering young people with practical skills.
A representative of the Victorious School of Empowerment gave a brief background of the organization, explaining that its primary mission is to empower young people through practical skills development and personal transformation. The representative disclosed that the institution has been actively involved in outreach programmes targeting school children and vulnerable groups, including young people battling drug addiction, with the objective of helping them rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.
Speaking on the future vision of the institution, Mrs. Boima Nepor Gogra stated that the Victorious School of Empowerment intends to expand its training programmes to reach more communities across the country. She highlighted plans to introduce additional vocational courses, strengthen mentorship opportunities and establish stronger partnerships that would support graduates in starting their own businesses.
Mrs. Boima Nepor Gogra reminded the graduates that the various courses they had completed would have cost them huge sums of money had they enrolled in certain institutions, but they were fortunate to have received the training completely free of charge because it was part of a church empowerment programme.
She told the graduates that they were leaving the institution with their future in their own hands and urged them to take the skills they had acquired seriously, noting that a great deal of resources had been invested in their training and development.
According to her, the graduates should not only focus on their physical lives but should also pay equal attention to their spiritual growth, adding that true success comes from balancing both aspects of life. She encouraged them to be confident, believe in themselves and never allow anyone to look down on them because of their background or circumstances.
Mrs. Boima Nepor Gogra also praised the dedication and professionalism of the teachers, noting that their selfless service and determination had been instrumental in the success of the maiden graduation ceremony. She expressed appreciation to parents and guardians for supporting the participants throughout the training period and encouraged the graduates to use their skills to become successful entrepreneurs and role models.
The ceremony was marked by joy and celebration as the graduates proudly received their certificates amidst cheers from family members and friends. Many attendees described the initiative as a practical response to youth unemployment and a meaningful contribution towards building a generation of self-reliant and enterprising young Sierra Leonean women.
The successful hosting of the maiden Skills Training Graduation Ceremony by Zion Praise Tabernacle in collaboration with the Victorious School of Empowerment has been widely viewed as a significant investment in human capital development and a demonstration of the important role faith-based and community organizations can play in promoting sustainable livelihoods and national development.
