SANWO-OLU JOINS AS 4,592 TRAINEES GRADUATE FROM WAPA SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATIVE IN LAGOS

Read Time:4 Minute, 27 Second

Sayofunmi Elutunju

It was a joyous event marked by a large turnout on Wednesday as 4,592 trainees proudly graduated from the Lagos State Skills Acquisition initiative of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), in the presence of family and friends, at the Blue Roof, LTV complex in Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

The celebration was made more memorable for the graduands by the presence of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, who were present in person to celebrate with the host, the Commissioner of WAPA, Mrs Celilia Bolaji Dada.

The happy graduates were products of 19 Skill Acquicision Centres (SAC) spread throughout the state, where they completed a 12-month training programme in a number of vocations, followed by a 6-month Industrial Training program where they applied their newly acquired skills to real-world situations.

Among the professions are textile design, photography, adult literacy, computer studies, welding/fabrication, shoe and leather works, aluminium fabrication, cosmetology and hair dressing, maintenance and repair of refrigerators and air-conditioners, dressmaking and fashion design, catering and hotel management, furniture, barbing, and many more.

The 19 centres are: Ikorodu 1, Ikorodu 2, Ilashe, Isheri, Kosofe, L/Island, Mushin, Shibiri, Surulere, WDC, Agidingbi, Ayobo, Badagry, Egan, Egbeda, Eredo, Iba, Ibeju-Lekki, and Igbooye.

In her opening remarks at the event, Hon. (Mrs.) Celilia Bolaji Dada, said the programme is designed and implemented for the benefit of the country by recognizing the potential talent of women and youth development as well as encouraging self reliance for the development of the society.

“We have established business development and monitoring programmes in addition to providing guidance in navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship,” she said.

“Just as the world recognizes the significance of technology in today’s order of events, we will help in providing women and youths with tools and equipment”

She added that the ministry has empowered various women and families in various training programs through other initiatives.

“Ten weeks ago, 300 women were trained and empowered in catfish breeding, also few weeks ago; 400 families were certified on healthy nutrition programme, and food packaging were given to each of the families.”

According to her, the WAPA ministry has trained women in 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas during the most recent International Day of Poverty Alleviation, empowering 400 beneficiaries, including elderly women, people living with sickle cell disease, people living with HIV, and people with disabilities from all over the state.

At the conclusion of the training, they were given free equipment to start their own businesses. According to her, about 16,560 women have benefited from the programme so far.

She also emphasized that the centres are for both men and women.

The commissioner, however, called on the graduates to take advantage of technological advancements by using social media to promote their well-packaged products on the global market.

In his speech, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, advised the graduands to explore technology and social media in projecting their skills and business.

Hamzat said globalisation had shattered the economic barriers that had prevented people from showcasing their skills to the markets outside their geographical areas.

The Deputy Governor, however, cautioned the trainees from misusing the social media networks to project wrong image for their businesses.

Hamzat urged the graduating students to only listen to positive thoughts only especially on social media.

He also said “if you want to do your business, go to Lagos State Employment Trust Fund where they are mandated to help. Wealth Creation was created to assist the people.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu, during his speech congratulated the graduates, urging them to embrace learning and be proud of their achievements.

“Learning is skills, learning is a profession that you are truly proud of,” he said.

“With your own knowledge and skills, you can indeed get to where you want to get to”

He advised the students to make the most of the opportunity that had been presented to them in order to empower themselves.

“Never get scared of first attempt, learn from your mistake, do not get discouraged, do not feel defeated. Each time you make a mistake, pick it up and encourage yourself that you will be better each day,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was targeted at empowering the grassroots, while giving young people an opportunity to discover their innate potential and to be economically engaged.

He noted that the life skills would help the beneficiaries to be self-reliant, just as their entrepreneurial abilities would be enhanced and make them contribute to the economic growth of the State.

Along with his deputy and the commissioner, the governor presented various business equipment, like hair dryers, generators and sewing machines, to 19 graduates who excelled in their fields.

Two retirees – Mrs. Majekodunmi Bolanle, 66, and Mrs. Kuburat Animashaun, 64 were also among the graduands, they decided to take up a new craft to keep their hands busy and refresh their minds.

The grandmothers voluntarily enrolled at the Lagos State Skill Acquisition Centre in Agidingbi to upgrade their skill set, picking up a new vocation in computer operations and software.

The training produced 3,263 female graduates and 1,329 male graduates.

Nineteen Best Trainees across the vocational courses were presented with equipment to immediately start their crafts.