The honourable Member House of Representatives for the Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon James Abiodun Faleke in continuation of the JAF Ikeja Federal Constituency Empowerments Project held a 2-day Fish Farming training organized by the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) on Monday and Tuesday at the Ikeja Local Government Auditorium.
The over 300 trainees were selected from the 18 wards of Ikeja Federal Constituency and they comprise graduates, undergraduates, other youth categories and women.
Hon Faleke while addressing the media at the event said that “the biggest problem we have is unemployment and the level is so high right now in Nigeria. Year in year out we churn out graduates, some good qualities and some not too good. Whether we like it or not those graduates go back into the society and most are unable to do anything meaningful”.
“In addition to that you noticed that most of our graduates are not technically biased. Their certification could be in form of history, economics, geography and all the rest. All they are all seeking for is federal government’s employment. I have a file in my office of over 3000 CVs (curriculum vitae), out of which I was only able to do 93 and it grows every day”.
“So I ponder on the way out and realized that the only way out is to do training in other vocational sectors, where they can earn sufficiently for themselves and possibly employ others”.
“So after the training we give a token of 80,000 naira to each participant as takeoff grant”.
The lawmaker also noted that “If you recall, I moved a motion at the floor of the National Assembly, that the Federal Government should look at the opportunity of seeking for loans for all our moribund industries and to nominate government officials to oversee the management until the loans are paid back”.
“The loans are cheaper, they are single digit, about 3%, every company that take it can survive on 3% interest rate, rather than taking loan at 26% from commercial bank”.
“If we are able to do this, it will reduce unemployment, it will increase our GDP (Gross Domestic Product), we will become a manufacturing country rather than consumption country”.
“So the major reason why I am doing this is to first see how to cheer-up our people to become self-reliant. This year alone I have assisted people with over 17 million naira for either naming ceremony, funerals and all different types of financial assistants”.
“So I asked myself, how do we continue with this? In other clime the constituents don’t go to their elected members for financial assistant, so the elected members are able to do their job elected for”.
“My major interest in to ensure that my constituents are well employed and self-sustaining themselves in their chosen business. But because they don’t have the resources, hence the reason for the series of empowerment projects for members of my constituents”.
“I tried to enlighten them that you don’t collect your grant after training and go use it for aso-ebi (clothing’s) or merry making but for the essence why it was given, to startup fish farming” affirmed the Chairman Finance Committee of the Federal House of Representatives.
On Saturday Lagos Panorama reported that the Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon James Abiodun Faleke has empowered over 500 members of his constituents on Friday at the National Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.
Beneficiaries were empowered with range of items which include cash grant of 100,000 naira and 50,000 naira each. Also given out to some selected constituents across the federal constituency are items that can enhance their entrepreneurial skills these include 15 sets of barbing equipment with a generator, 20 Hairdressing equipment, 15 car painting machine, 20 mechanic tool boxes, 5 car alignment machines, 15 vulcanizing machines and 25 industrial sewing machines.
