NIGER DELTA – Continuing its mission of empowering young people across the Niger Delta Region, the MGE Foundation has graduated its 2026 cohort of beneficiaries under its flagship Skills Acquisition Programme, with about 30 Niger Delta youths receiving professional training, certificates, and start-up equipment to support their entrepreneurial journeys.
The graduation ceremony took place on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Serenity Legal Union/Partners Complex on Peter Odili Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, bringing together Foundation officials, partners, mentors, families, and invited guests to celebrate the achievements of the beneficiaries.
Founded by Micheal Etomi and George Etomi, the MGE Foundation was established to break the cycle of poverty through self-empowerment, skills development, mentorship, and community-focused initiatives. The idea for the Foundation was conceived after the founders witnessed the growing poverty, environmental neglect, and hopelessness among youths in the Niger Delta—conditions that inspired them to create sustainable opportunities capable of transforming lives and communities.
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The Foundation’s interventions include its flagship Skills Acquisition Programme, Panel Sessions and Mentoring, Graduate Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Programme, as well as Community Sports and Recreation initiatives.
The 2026 graduating cohort comprised beneficiaries trained in Fashion and Design, Photography, Catering, Hotel Management, and the Graduate Trainee Programme in Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Professional Certification. Upon completing their training, the graduates were presented with certificates and start-up equipment to help them establish businesses and become self-reliant.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Executive Director of the MGEFoundation, Ibifama Walaku-Saya, reflected on the Foundation’s journey and reaffirmed its commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty across the Niger Delta through sustainable skills acquisition and empowerment programmes.
She noted that equipping young people with practical skills, entrepreneurial knowledge, and business support remains central to the Foundation’s vision of raising self-reliant individuals who can contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of their communities.
In his keynote address, the Co-founder of the MGE Foundation and Principal Partner of George Etomi & Partners, George Etomi, shared the vision that inspired the establishment of the Foundation, explaining that it was created to give Niger Delta youths and communities a second chance through access to skills acquisition, empowerment programmes, mentorship, and sustainable opportunities.
He reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to building a future where young people are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to overcome poverty, create employment, and make lasting contributions to society.
Etomi encouraged the graduates to remain focused, disciplined, and resilient, urging them to maximize the opportunities provided by the Foundation and become ambassadors of positive change in their communities.
The ceremony climaxed with the presentation of certificates and start-up equipment to the beneficiaries, symbolizing the Foundation’s continued investment in youth empowerment and sustainable development across the Niger Delta.
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