ECCL celebrates Tobago Graduation Ceremony in fine style
The Export Centres Company Limited’s (ECCL), a state enterprise under the Ministry of Sort and Community Development hosted its first Tobago Graduation Ceremony for the ECCL Assured Certificate Programme on Tuesday at the Magdalena Grand Hotel.
The stunning ceremony also included performances and a display of the graduates’ creations, including bags, soaps, candles and fabric art.
Giving the feature address for the occasion, Minister of Sport and Community Development and MP for Tobago West, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis said that these certificates add international certification and formality to the innovative and creative spirit that Tobagonians have already had for generations.
Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis
The Minister expressed satisfaction that the government’s services were accessible to citizens in Tobago and emphasized that Tobagonians must benefit equally from the programmes under the Ministry.
“We have been doing skills training through the CEP programme in this Ministry for 61 years. It is one of the longest-running programmes in the nation and we’ve been serving Trinidad and Tobago from day one.
“It’s about training and retraining, it’s about teaching, it’s about developing real space for you to do your trade,” she said.
Adwin Cox, Chief Executive Officer of EECL also expressed similar excitement.
CEO of ECCL, Adwin Cox
“When we looked at our service offering, we made it of paramount importance to begin training in Tobago to give an avenue for that creative spirit to flourish among the participants in Tobago.
“I was really enthused and energised by what I saw in the training programmes for the persons who are now, today, graduates,” he said.
Cox also applauded all the organisers who were responsible for executing the initiative.
Recalling her own experience at a hotel in Barbados, Minister Cudjoe-Lewis shared her hope that, in addition to starting businesses with the skills the graduates have learned, she also hopes that bigger entities will invest in the talent to create a more diverse economy.
Some of the graduates also got a chance to share their thoughts. Sandra Orr-Toney, a student of the Fabric Art class said that she was so thankful for the extra push she got, not only from teachers, but her fellow students.
Graduate, Sandra Orr-Toney (right), stands with Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis
“It was about exploring creativity, finding patience, pushing through in those moments of doubt when I felt lost or when inspiration seemed just out of reach.
“In the initial stages of the course, I must admit, I did struggle and often questioned myself as to whether I had the resolve and creativity to succeed. Notwithstanding, I was very fortunate to be surrounded by a group of talented women and most of them, with unique individual skill sets and they all extended overwhelming support and encouragement,” she recalled.
Unlike other skills training initiatives, the ECCL Assured Certification Programme comes with international certification, the opportunity to trade through ECCL’s Craft Hub TT e-commerce platform, and the opportunity to become a craft tutor under the Ministry of Sport and Community Development or ECCL.