Al-Toyyibah Travels and Tours Limited, a reputable travelling agency in Ikorodu offering convenient and comfortable travelling services for Haj, Umrah and Tours, has ploughed back a large part of its profits to the society by training and empowering fifty-one (51) young entrepreneurs across Ikorodu division in various vocational professions.
At the graduation and empowerment ceremony held on December 2, 2017, at the palace of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, the travelling agency, through its foundation, Al-Toyyibah Foundation, a non-governmental organization established to alleviate poverty and empower youths in the society, gave a startup capital to the fifty one (51) graduands to establish themselves in their various area of interest.
Another good thing about the event was the promise by the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mr. Akin Oyebode, to give loan facilities to all the lucky graduands next year to support their businesses.
He also demonstrated his commitment to this promise by giving forms to the graduands to apply for the loan.
Alhaji Jubril Akarakiri, CEO Al-Toyyibah Travels and Tours and foundation speaking at the event, said that in commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed, the foundation is lending its support to the less priviledged by conducting free vocational training and empowerment program of which a total of fifty one (51) graduates who have been trained and groomed in various vocational fields to boost the economic profile of the society.
According to him, he said that the foundation has concluded plans to obtain Joint Admission and Matriculation (Jamb) forms and organize free tutorials for one hundred intending students from the community towards year 2018 university entrance examination.
“To the young graduates and prospective entrepreneurs, the vision at At-Toyyibah Foundation is to change your thinking and inspire you to choose a brighter future. Do not get fulfilled with goal setting, but rather be impressed with goal setting,” he concluded.
He further explained that training was a way of showing the students how to fish rather than giving them fish. He urged them to make good use of the opportunity provided by setting up their own business in order to generate wealth and also boost the economy of the state.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Akin Oyebode, Executive secretary, Lagos State Trust Empowerment Fund, appreciated At-Toyyibah for taking it upon themselves to empower youths in Ikorodu division. He eulogized the foundation for seeing in the direction of the state government.
He assured the gathering of the readiness of Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund (LSETF) to partner with At-Toyyibah Foundation by giving loan facilities to all the graduand in the coming year to support their business.
He enjoined the gathering to inform everyone in their domains who are legitimate entrepreneurs to come to the office of LSETF to obtain form in other to benefit from the loan facilities provided by the state government. He noted that the purpose of the empowerment trust fund is to support and empower entrepreneur in other to boost the economy of the state.
Mr. Olabode charged the gathering to report to the body anyone in the act of selling the loan forms. He said the form is free therefore anyone selling it is a criminal that needs to be prosecuted. He asked
the gathering not to patronize any criminal persons claiming to be selling forms as such people are enemy of the good work of the governor of the state.
The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago CEO/Publisher Oriwu Sun newspaper while addressing the gathering expressed his happiness towards the creation of At-Toyyibah foundation to cater for the les priviledged in the society.
He told the gathering that the reason he decided to support the foundation is because he believes in catering for the less priviledged in the society prompted is decision to built a block of three big classrooms, offices and toilets for low cost housing Estate Primary school, the Estate where headquarter of his company is located.
He charged the graduand not to entertain the fear that they can be great in life. He said the thought will only limited them from achieving greatness in life. He sighted examples of eminent personalities who were from poor background but are now respectable people in the society today.
He urged the graduands to appreciate the kind gesture of At-Toyyibah foundation by being diligent, staying focus and hard working in other to excel in their respective chosen vocation.
On her own part the CEO ZEVOTRA institute Alhaja Sayyidah Zeenat thanked Alhaji Akarakiri founder of At-Toyyibah foundation for partnering with the institute on the laudable programme.
She enjoined all outgoing students to make sure they use the opportunity given to them very well and be ready to pay back to the society by impacting in other people’s life.
She equally urged everyone present inclusive of the graduates to be optimistic of cheerful alms and be prepared to give to their society and not to only think of what the society could give them.
Four of the beneficiaries, Aliu Quadri, Sodiq Ayodolapo, Ladejobi Babatunde and Majolagbe Rahmat while thanking At-Tayyibah foundation for finding them worthy to be trained said the training had provided them with the opportunity to become self-reliant and promised to judiciously use the skill to improve on their lives.
Imam (Engr.) Shakiru Gaffar (Mofesaye) from Lagos Central Mosque, who was the guest speaker applauded the founder of Al-Toyyibah Foundation for the good initiative of empowering the youths in the society. He noted that the empowerment initiative is one of the teaching of Prophet Mohammad.
Imam Gaffar then charged muslims to always remember the birth, sojourneying and the teaching of Prophet Mohammad by giving back to the society. He enjoined everyone to give back to the society out of the abundance Allah has bless them with. He said refusal to give to the society is an act of ingratitude to God.
He then noted that Islam encourage Muslims to be their brother’s keeper by caring for others in the society. He said caring for the less privileged in the society is important and one of the teaching of Prophet Mohammad.
