The Lagos State Government has extended its short-term training and empowerment programmes to 250 women residents of Agbede Community in Ikorodu-North LCDA to grant them financial independence.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the programme held on Thursday at the Zeekay Multi-purpose hall in Olosugbo-Ikorodu, the Commissioner for Women and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, said the initiative was part of the State government’s poverty reduction strategy to empower vulnerable women with skills for financial independence.
Dada, who was represented at the event by the Director, Women Affairs Department of the Ministry, Mrs. Olufunke Shyllon, added that training is available in various vocations that would alleviate the sufferings of the indigent and vulnerable.
Her words: “We do not want any form of deterrence that could sabotage the efforts of our graduands, hence, the focus on short-term skills acquisition vocations that they can do, even in the corners of their homes to earn their desired level of income.
“The Lagos State government has zero-tolerance for idleness and mediocrity, as such, I implore every graduand present here today, to make good use of the skills learnt in order to go from a state of dependency to self-reliance”.
Advising the participants to embrace self-development and proficiency in their chosen trades, the Commissioner urged the beneficiaries of the training programme to continuously sharpen their skills with a view to becoming masters of their crafts.
She also called on prospective students, particularly unemployed persons or the underemployed, to enrol at any of the 19 Skills Acquisition Centres offering various vocational training of six to 12 months duration.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ikorodu-North LCDA, Mr. Adebisi Banjo, represented by the Secretary of the Council, Niyi Odugbesi, expressed gratitude to the State Government for the programme and encouraged the beneficiaries to maximise the benefits of their newly acquired knowledge.
He said: “I am immensely grateful for this empowerment programme that WAPA brought to Ikorodu-North LCDA. We are quite lucky to have such a laudable opportunity which I am quite certain will have a positive socio-economic impact on the community. Therefore, I urge the beneficiaries of this programme to maximise their newly acquired skills”.
The Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo applauded the initiative and thanked WAPA for its unrelenting commitment to the improvement of women across the State.
“This is indeed a significant day for the people of Ikorodu-North LCDA and I am overwhelmed by the dedication and passion of the beneficiaries. I am particularly grateful to WAPA for being a vessel of change in the lives of these women. Out of the 350 Wards in Ikorodu, 35 have today benefitted from this life developmental initiative. We look forward to having the remaining wards covered before the end of this administration”, he said.
The graduands were presented Certificates and Starter Packs for Wig-Making and Hair Braiding, Make-up and Gele Tying, Tie and Dye, Catering and Confectionaries, Garments-Stoning, Pomade Making Insecticide and Stove Wick, Ankara Craft and Interior Decoration, among others.
The participants expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government for the tuition-free empowerment programme and professed happiness that the training was an eye-opener.
The strategic empowerment scheme was designed for women residents of Agbede-Olorogbo, Agbede-Olusugbo, Agbede-Ebuewa and Agbede-Omolaiye communities under the Ikorodu-North Local Council Development Area of the State.
