The atmosphere was filled with pride, joy, and excitement on 11th of July 2025 as Chiggy Nsofor Foundation (CNF) marked a significant milestone with the graduation of the first cohort of the Skill Scale-Up Program. Twenty-one students proudly crossed the threshold from training to opportunity, having completed 4 months of intensive and transformative learning experience across vital skill areas.
The graduating cohort were trained in Web Development, Digital Marketing, Photography and Videography, Catering, Hair Styling, Makeup Artistry, Content Creation, Entrepreneurship, and the Total Man Concept–a holistic curriculum designed to prepare young people not just for jobs, but for purpose driven lives.
The graduation ceremony, held at Kurudu, Abuja, Nigeria, was a heartwarming celebration of growth, resilience, and the power of community. In attendance were families, supporters, and members of the CNF community, all gathered to celebrate the achievements of the graduates- affectionately called STARS.
In her address, Chiggy Nsofor, the visionary Founder and CEO of CNF, extended her heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed to making the day a success. She gave special recognition to the CNF Army, the Foundation’s dedicated team, for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment.
Speaking to the graduates, Chiggy offered both heartfelt congratulations and a charge for the road ahead. “Learning a skill is vital,” she said, “but what is even more important is character. Character will sustain you. Remember, if you have a bad attitude, you can never make it. Where talent might get you to the door, character will keep you in the room.”
Her words struck a powerful chord, reminding the STARS that technical ability alone isn’t enough- integrity, humility, and consistency will be their lifelong allies.
Chiggy encouraged the graduates to carry forward the values instilled in them during the program with three key messages:
- Never Stop Learning: “Always remain a student even after graduation. The world isn’t static, neither should you. Your most valuable asset won’t be what you know today, but your relentless willingness to learn, adapt, and persist longer than anyone else. Embrace the ‘oops’ moments, they are often the best teachers.” She concluded the point with a quote by Alvin Toffler: “The illiterate of the 21st century are not those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
- Serve Without Expectation: “Give some services for free and be content in that service. Learn to give without always expecting anything in return.” This reminder speaks to the heart of the Foundation’s ethos- Impact.
- Live a Life of Impact: “Be people of impact, in the littlest way or the biggest, don’t take advantage of people and hold fast to God. Believe in yourselves, believe in your potential, and believe in the incredible journey ahead. Lastly-love, because love brought you this far, go forth and spread that love.”
As the event concluded, the air was thick with inspiration. These 21 trailblazers are not just leaving with skills, they’re leaving with vision, direction, and a strong community behind them. With programs like Skill Scale-Up, Chiggy Nsofor Foundation continues to lead the charge in equipping young Nigerians with the tools, values, and confidence they need to thrive in today’s world and shape tomorrow.
CNF Skill Scale-Up Cohort 1 graduation was also featured in Leadership Newspaper https://leadership.ng/foundation-graduates-21-youths-in-skill-empowerment-programme/
Times Newspaper https://timesreporters.com/chiggy-nsofor-foundation-empowers-21-youths-through-skill-scale-up-cohort-1/.
Independent Newspaper https://independent.ng/21-young-nigerians-benefit-f.rom-chiggy-nsofor-foundation-free-training-on-web-development-digital-marketing-others/.
