116 trained youth graduates from CEED under International Needs Ghana at Adidome 

International Needs Ghana has held a graduation ceremony for 116 trainees at its vocational school, the Centre for Empowerment and Enterprise Development (CEED) at Adidome.  

The graduates have successfully completed programmes in Cosmetology, Hospitality Management, and Fashion Design and Garment Construction. 

The ceremony, which covered the graduating cohorts from 2021 to 2025, was held to celebrate the achievements of the trainees and reaffirm INGH’s commitment towards promoting youth empowerment, employability, and sustainable livelihoods through technical and vocational education and training (TVET). 

Mr Cromwell Awadey, the Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, described the graduation as a milestone in the organisation’s vision of transforming lives and creating dignified livelihoods, especially among young women. 

He disclosed that about 80 percent of the graduates had already established and were successfully managing their own enterprises, while the remaining were gainfully employed in firms across the country. 

“These young women are now employers, service providers, and community change agents, living testimonies of empowerment and self-reliance,” he said. 

Mr Awadey emphasised that CEED’s training model goes beyond technical instruction to include entrepreneurship, mentorship, and life skills education aimed at building discipline, creativity, and resilience. 

He commended Northbrook Church, donors, and institutional partners for their unwavering support, which he said had made it possible for many young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain access to quality vocational training. 

He also lauded the dedication of facilitators, management, and families of the graduates for their invaluable roles in the students’ transformation. 

“To our graduands, your success today is only the beginning. Use your skills not just for self-sustenance but to uplift others, mentor future learners, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Mr Awadey urged. 

Mr Awadey reaffirmed INGH’s commitment to deepening its youth empowerment agenda through expanded access to TVET, enhanced mentorship systems, and entrepreneurship development programmes, particularly for women and vulnerable youth. 

Dr Edmond Vanderpuye, General Secretary of International Needs, Inc. and Chairman of the event, commended parents for their sacrifices and urged the graduates to be agents of positive change in society. 

He cautioned them against social vices and encouraged them to uphold professionalism, integrity, and hard work in their respective careers. 

Ms Mawulorm Essie Gbekor, the Principal of CEED, congratulated the graduates for their dedication and resilience, describing their journey as one of “lives transformed, skills refined, and faith strengthened.” 

She said the Centre’s Christ-centred approach to education aims not only to equip trainees with employable skills but also to shape character, service, and purpose-driven living. 

Ms Gbekor expressed gratitude to the facilitators, staff, and parents for their continuous support, urging the graduates to let their work “be a reflection of Christ’s love and their hands instruments of His grace.” 

Ms Nicole Smith, the Director of Missions at Northbrook Church, USA, commended the graduates for their perseverance and faith throughout their training. 

She encouraged them to let their craftsmanship and service illuminate their communities, saying, “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine through your work and your character.” 

Ms Smith reminded the graduates to uphold honesty, excellence, and compassion in their businesses, adding that their talents were not ordinary but powerful tools for transformation and service. 

“The Lord has planted you here for a reason. Ghana and Africa need your creativity, your strength, and your light,” she said. 

The CEED programme, which operates under International Needs Ghana, provides vocational and entrepreneurial training for young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to enhance employability, economic independence and social inclusion. 

Source: GNA