History was made recently when no fewer than 100 students of Le Look Bags Academy (LLBA) graduated in pomp and pageantry in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Besides the caliber of men and women that attended the graduation ceremony from far and near, parents, relations and friends shared in the joy and celebrations that took place at Le Look Avenue, ACO 3 Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. There is no doubt that Wednesday February 13, 2025 will remain etched in the memories of the graduates, their loved ones and guests who came from all walks of life to witness the epoch making event.
The graduation ceremony was the climax of the three months vocational training in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) compliant bag making for export readiness which sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is on record that AfCFTA is a free trade area comprising most of Africa. It was established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which has 43 parties and another 11 signatories, making it the largest free-trade area by number of member states, after the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the largest in population and geographical location.
LLBA is the brainchild of Chief (Mrs.) Chinwe Ezenwa, a retired public servant who made waves in the Federal Ministry of Transportation in her hay days in the civil service. Ezenwa who is also the former Acting Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Le Look Nigeria Limited. It was auspicious and momentous that the LLBA graduation ceremony was coming 25 years after its parent company, Le Look Nigeria was established.
That LLBA is a home for all was glaring as not a few persons with disabilities were among the graduates. It is also a gender sensitive training institution as both male and female young Nigerians are given opportunities to learn bag making skills that will empower them to face the future with determination to succeed instead of roaming around the streets of urban areas looking for non-existent white collar jobs. This was the vision that motivated the retired but not yet tired Ezenwa to establish LLBA.
Apart from Ezenwa, those who graced the occasion include the Resident Representative, UNDP Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah; former Deputy Governor of Plateau State and Minister of Women Affairs who is also the Chairman, Board of Directors, LLBA, Dame Pauline Tallen; Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Adewale Adeniyi who was represented by the Comptroller, Trade Facilitation at Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Headquarters, Abuja, Comptroller Nafiu Isiyaku; former Nigeria’s Alternate Representative, International Maritime Organization (IMO), London, United Kingdom, Mr. Williams Azuh; and the Director General and Chief Executive (CEO), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii.
Others are representatives of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment; Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy; Federal Ministry of Transportation; Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; Federal Ministry of Youths Development; Nigeria Exports Promotion Council (NEPC); Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC); Catholic Women Association, Holy Rosary, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja; Mr. Obinna Nwakpa; and Mr. Ledom Umekwe.
These are some of the photographs that depict some aspects of the occasion:
