By Damiete Braide
Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, in collaboration with Speed Up Lagos, has empowered 200 residents with various skills to enable them fend for themselves.
The graduation ceremony of the two-week skills programme was held in Festac Town recently.
Speaking at the ceremony, head of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Amuwo Odofin Council, Abisola Folami, said the graduating students were trained in different skills, such as fabric design and souvenir production, catering and food management, home essentials and make-up. sewing and craft-making, among others.
Folami said: “The training will eradicate poverty. They should continue to practise what they have been taught. With what they have learnt, they will be able to train others and become entrepreneurs and they will become self-reliant too.”
Folami commended the beneficiaries for successfully completing the training and enjoined them to become the entrepreneurs that they were trained to be and reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
“They should not keep their certificates at home for decoration but make good use of it. By now, a lot of you should be your own bosses. For example, those of you in the catering class ought to be doing what they you were taught by now. You should be an entrepreneur. You have been empowered and now it is left for you to empower yourselves. Get these things done and sell them to earn a living.”
House leader, Kiki Emmanuel, enjoined them to be dedicated and committed to their fields. According to him, “they should continue what they have been taught, so that the efforts will not be a waste.”
He added the local government chairman was a visionary man, always ready to empower his people.
Emmanuel admonished the graduands to take what they have learnt seriously and ensure that they establish businesses: “What they have been taught should not be wasted.”
He described Valentine Buraimoh, chairman, Amuwo Odofin LGA, as a visionary man who is eager to always empower his people in various avenues.
The majority leader of the House, Michael Ojomo, said the programme was a good initiative by Buraimoh.
“They were taught various vocational skills, which will be beneficial to them. Due to what is happening in the country, the training will improve the economy of the local government. My advice to the graduands is that they should take what they have learnt seriously and they will make great impact on what they have been taught.”
Representative of director of Necessary Measures Against Perversity and Poverty (NEMAP), an NGO, and Speed Up Lagos, Kemisola Sanni, said: “This is a wonderful programme and I commend the local government chairman for bringing this idea to train people in various skills.
“The training will eradicate poverty in the country and, for the women, they are able to take care of their families in the absence of their husbands.
“We were able to train over 200 people in various skills. Some of the skills learnt include bag-making, souvenir production, catering, home essentials/productsand make-up. My advice is for them not to relax; they have been given the opportunity and they got it on a platter of gold. So, they must make good use of the skills learnt.
“They should add value to it and continue to stimulate themselves in order to improve the economy of the state. The chairman of this local government is a visionary leader. He desires the interest of his people. We appreciate the chairman for making sure that poverty is being eradicated form the local government.”
Saka Olamide, an instructor for catering and food management, said: “I taught my students how to make various cakes, small chops, hot dog, etc, and I am very proud of them. They were eager to learn and they did not disappoint me.”
One of the graduating students, Bose Babatunde, who learnt souvenir production, commended the chairman and Speed Up Lagos, saying the two-week training helped her a lot.
“I will not joke with what I have learnt. I will ensure that I work very hard to enjoy the fruits of my labour. Since then, I have been getting customers to do various bags for them and I am happy.”
During the ceremony, the graduands showcased some of the items that they made and guests commended their efforts and enjoined them to work harder. To demonstrate what they had learnt, two of the graduands tied gele for one of the guests at the event.
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By Damiete Braide Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, in collaboration with Speed Up Lagos,…
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© 2019 The Sun Nigeria – Managed by Netsera.
© 2019 The Sun Nigeria – Managed by Netsera.
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