By Foster Akpore
The Oasis of Hope Initiative on Saturday 14 March 2026 graduated 35 trainees at the 19th edition of its vocational programme, Project Hope, with a call on young people to pursue excellence, discipline, and a strong relationship with God in order to succeed in life.
The ceremony, held at the initiative’s permanent site along Ute Okpu–Ute Erumu Road in Ute Okpu, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, brought together community members, parents, church leaders, and well wishers to celebrate the graduates who completed a two year skills acquisition programme.
Chairman of the initiative, Rev. Thomas Ukwute, in his address said the programme was established to address poverty, social neglect, and loss of purpose among many young people.
Drawing from Proverbs 22:29, Ukwute said diligence and excellence remain the foundation for success.
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings and not before unknown men,” he said, noting that many people struggle in life because they have lost their identity, direction, and sense of future.
According to him, the initiative was created to restore those three elements by helping disadvantaged youths rediscover their potential and acquire practical skills that can support them economically.
He explained that since the programme began in 2005, more than 928 young people have been trained free of charge, with each graduate receiving a sewing machine at the completion of the training.
“Many of them now run their own workshops, while others are employed in garment factories. Some have even returned to school, using the skills they acquired here to support their education,” Ukwute said.
He added that the centre currently has 61 students in training and appealed to individuals and organisations to partner with the initiative to expand its facilities and upgrade its equipment.
The guest speaker, Bishop Kenneth Egbolum, described the graduates as individuals who had undergone a process of transformation.
According to him, many of the trainees arrived at the centre without direction or hope but had been refined through training and spiritual guidance.
“You came here raw, but you passed through a process of refinement. Now the world is waiting for you,” he said.
Egbolum compared the transformation of the students to crude oil refining, noting that valuable products often emerge from substances that initially appear worthless.
He also emphasised the importance of vocational skills in a changing economy, stressing that academic qualifications alone were no longer sufficient for economic survival.
“The world is changing. Without skills, it will be difficult to be useful to yourself or to others,” he said, urging the graduates to pursue vision, discipline, and hard work.
In a prayer session, the Spiritual Father of the Day, Bishop Chris Okoh, asked God to guide the graduates and protect them from negative influences as they begin a new phase of life.
“May the Lord bless the work of your hands and give you the power to prosper,” he prayed.
Several graduates also shared testimonies about how the programme had changed their lives.
One of the graduates, Emmanuella Igho of Imodje-Orogun, in Ughelli North LGA Delta State said she arrived at the centre without any practical skills but was leaving as a trained fashion designer, shoemaker, and bag maker.
“Before coming here, I kept asking myself what I would do with my life. Today I am proud of myself because I have a skill and a future,” she said.
Another trainee, Ruth Onyah from Ndokwa West, said the programme helped her gain confidence and improve her public speaking ability.
“I came here like an empty vessel. I did not even know how to operate a sewing machine. Today I can make the clothes I am wearing myself,” she said.
Animam Favour from Amai in Ukwuani Local Government Area said the initiative had reshaped her character and helped her discover her purpose.
Parents who attended the ceremony also commended the organisers.
Mr. Igho, father of one of the graduates, said many people in my community initially doubted the programme.
“Some people even said it was a scam when my daughter applied. But today we can see the results. My daughter received free training, accommodation, feeding, and even a sewing machine,” he said.
He urged government authorities to support the programme, describing it as a valuable contribution to youth development and community growth.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of certificates and empowerment tools to the graduates, who are expected to establish their own businesses or seek employment using the skills they acquired during the training.