THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF AWKA AND FEMALE YOUTHS EMPOWERNMENT THROUGH VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Abstract

This article explores the Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion’s role in empowering female youths through vocational education within Awka metropolis in Anambra State, Nigeria. With a sharp rise in both female youth prostitution through street sex hawking and the internet-connected practice popularly known as 'hook-up' in contemporary times alongside increased economic disenfranchisement among young women, the Anglican Diocese of Awka’s efforts focus on skill acquisition as a solution. The Diocesan programs have provided training in trades such as tailoring, catering, bakery, and technology, geared towards equipping young women in Awka metropolis with sustainable skills. Despite these strides, limited resources and inconsistent program reach present challenges, highlighting a knowledge gap in maximizing vocational education’s impact on socioeconomic empowerment of female youngsters within Awka urban area. Case studies of the Diocesan initiatives and interviews with program benefactors including beneficiaries, along with a review of existing literature on the subject, were adopted to achieve the focus of this study. The necessary conclusions were drawn from the synthesis and analysis of data gathered through phenomenological and content analysis approaches, while the Empowerment Theory was employed to articulate the research's arguments. Findings suggest that scaling these efforts and integrating mentorship and financial support can enhance their effectiveness; crucial to tackling the rise in online prostitution among young women and their reliance on unfamiliar cum strange men for socioeconomic support. The study recommends increased partnerships between church organizations and government to expand resources, address societal stigmas, and improve accessibility for female youths, fostering economic independence and reducing dependency on strange men together with exploitative online activities.