Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, on Wednesday, July 2, 2018, facilitated the empowerment of one hundred and sixty nine (169) constituents in conjunction with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty alleviation (WAPA) during the fourth Hon. Sanai Agunbiade Skills Acquisition programme in Ikorodu and graduation of trainees in various vocations.
Speaking during the programme, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Hon. Lola Akande, said that Governor Ambode was determined to lessen the effects of economic hardship on women by attaching importance to Skills acquisition.
In her words, “I wish to congratulate all the trainees, who have successfully completed their short-term vocational training aimed at empowering women to be self-reliant. As you are all aware, the Lagos State Government, under the able leadership of Governor Ambode, is determined to cushion the effects of the current economic situation on Women in particular. And this informed the creation of functional seventeen (17) Skills Acquisition Training Centres across the five divisions of the State,” she stated.
According to her, women empowerment has been an issue in the front bunner for both the past and present leadership, having identified that the challenges posed by poverty amongst women could only be surmounted through empowerment projects and programmes.
She said that it was in recognition of the foregoing that the Lagos State Government has continued to provide veritable platforms upon which multi various vocational training programmes could be obtained on a tuition free basis for the indigents of the state.
Lola Akande also said that the establishment of the seventeen (17) Skills Acquisition Centres by the State government has been a master stroke initiative, which has helped to serve as panacea to unemployment, particularly amongst women and young persons in the State.
Speaking further, she stated that the objective of this training was to train women, girls and men alike in various skills and vocations for the purpose of economic empowerment and lifting of their status from dependency to self-reliance. She expressed happiness that past beneficiaries of their four-week short-term vocational training were contributing to their families’ upkeep and societal development.
The Commissioner, therefore, enjoined participants and others to avail themselves of the opportunity of accessing loans through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund to start their businesses. She affirmed that the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment has set up the fund to promote entrepreneurial activities to help women in accessing loan for their businesses.
WAPA Boss urged women to avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the State Government and endeavour to continue to improve themselves in all areas of life, she concluded.
While also speaking, Hon. Agunbiade commended Governor Ambode for strengthening and promoting skills acquisition, which he said, was one of the APC’s programmes. He said Ambode has continued to deliver on the mandate of the party (APC) and evolved programmes with great impacts on the people and the State.
In his words, “Officially, we have one hundred and fifty (150) participants issued forms by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) but at the beginning of the programme, we also had people coming from Ketu, Ojota and other parts of the State for the programme and we couldn’t send them away.
“Today, apart from one hundred and fifty (150) participants, we have additional nineteen (19) participants, who were not on the Ministry’s register but were part of the programme from the start.” Agunbiade said he would like to plead on their behalf for the Ministry to issue them certificates to make their dreams fulfilled.
The legislator said, “It is a short term training and we are expecting participants to further their training and that’s why we brought the Director of Rhoda Youth Centre here to address you. You have the opportunity of furthering your vocational studies at the Rhoda Youth Centre. I will also be part of the training when next edition comes and I would graduate as someone, who has acquired a skill.”
Honourable Agunbiade announced that best participants in each of the six departments, including Catering and Hotel Management, Make-up and Bead, Hair Dressing, Soap and Pomade, Tie and Dye, plus Event Decoration and Planning shall be honoured and empowered very soon at a forthcoming programme, he assured.
Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, representing Ikorodu Constituency II, commended Hon. Agunbiade and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for empowering youths and women. He expressed appreciation to Ambode for his developmental projects in Ikorodu division and Lagos State as well as implementing APC agenda.
Mrs. Tosan Erogbogbo, Director of Rhoda Youth Centre, in her lecture, urged participants to further their training after graduation because, according to her, there were still lots of things to learn in their chosen vocation. She advised them to imbibe honesty, commitment and dedication to their business for them to be outstanding and successful.
According to her, Rhoda Centre would afford them the opportunity to learn other areas of their skills, including how to write business proposals, etiquette and others.
Dignitaries at the ceremony were, Otunba Ganiu Abiru, Primate Charles Odugbesi, Alhaji Taiwo Longe, Hon. Ola, Elder Olakitan, Hon. Jide Banjoko, Hon. Abayomi Suleman, Hon. Omotayo Awolesi and Hon. Gbenga