The Permanent Secretary and Tutor-General, Education District 2, Lagos State, Mr. Olaniyi Yinka Gbemi, and others including the NUT Chairman, facilitators and students, have commended the Lagos State Government for organizing a Vocational Skills Training and Leadership Programme for students of public Secondary Schools in the state.
In his speech during the Grand-Finale of the programme at Immaculate School Hall, Maryland on Thursday, August 31, 2017, Mr. Olaniyi Yinka Gbemi praised Governor Ambode and his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule, for providing an enabling environment for public schools in the state to undergo vocational skills training during the long summer vacation.
According to him, the State Government wanted the students to have alternatives to their academic qualifications due to the high level of unemployment in the country. He congratulated all the beneficiary schools in his district, including Ikorordu, Somolu and Kosofe.
Mr. Olaniyi also informed the students that the skills they just acquired would rescue them from hopelessness and unemployment in the future. Hence, he advised them to balance the acquired skills and their education. In his words, “Please don’t throw these skills aside. Make sure that as you go on in your academic work, you also carry it along. I wish you all the best and pray that the efforts of the Lagos State government would not be in vain.”
Also at the event was the NUT Chairman, Mr. Fakolade, who commended the State Government for the rapid developments in the education sector and the skill acquisition programme. He, however, pleaded for more of such programme to further encourage the students. The Chairman also said that the acquired skills would boost the students’ economic values in future as it would become an alternative means of earning money.
He, therefore, commended the District’s Tutor-General and Perm Secretary, Mr. Olaniyi and his team for the success of the programme. He promised to also empower the teachers through vocational trainings.
Students and NGO representatives at the event also lauded the State Government for organizing the programme. Features of the event included the exhibition of products made by the students, which include, beads, cakes, dresses, shoes, soaps, photographs, repaired generator, among others.
The Tutor-General, the District staff and other dignitaries present moved round the exhibition stands while the students discussed how the products on display were made through their newly acquired skills.
A short drama and a poem about the future were performed by the students. Gifts were given to students and different zones of the district based on their achievements at the exhibition.
Those who graced the occasion included the Director, School Administration, Oyebambo Oyesina; Director, School Support Services, Mrs. Showemimo Taiyelolu; Chairman, Kosofe ANCOPSS, Mrs. Fabunmi Olufunke; Head of Account, Mr. Odubote Kayode.
Others were the Director of Education, Guidance and Counseling Unit of the district, Mrs. Theresa Akaeze; Director, Employee Relations Unit, Administration and Human Resources Department of the district, Mrs. Olufolake Agbeyangi, among others.