TO alleviate poverty and unemployment, the Igando-Ikotun LCDA has partnered with the Lagos State Government under its WECAN Speed-Up Lagos programme to equip 500 residents with productive vocational skills.
Having undergone the skills acquisition programme in the last few weeks, the beneficiaries, who were trained in Catering, Food Management, Makeup, and fabric design, received their certificates of training in a graduation ceremony held at the Igando-Ikotun LCDA secretariat and attended by the Executive Vice-Chairman, Hon. Mojisola Badmus, legislative members, management staff, Executives, and political leaders, among others.
The best eight (8) students of each department received N25,000 each, while the regular students were empowered to start up their small businesses in their chosen field, just as the instructors were rewarded.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of the LCDA, Comrade Akinsanya Lasisi Ayinde, pledged to continue to engage the youth in productive ventures and reduce unemployment, crime and idleness among the youths through empowerment schemes.
He urged the beneficiaries to engage in productive activities to make the programme a success.
“You should not despise the days of small beginnings. If you start small and remain steadfast and committed, you will succeed in all your endeavours,” he said.
Akinsanya said the skills acquisition scheme was aimed at teaching and imparting knowledge and skills to the beneficiaries, noting that any skills learnt would be useful for the beneficiaries and their children now and in the future.
He added that the empowerment programme would not only allow the youths to be their bosses but also enable them to be employers of labour, thereby, reducing the army of unemployed people in society.
At the end of the programme, Akinsanya inspected the participants’ handiwork and applauded their skills.
A beneficiary, Gbenga Oyeyemi, who expressed delight at the empowerment scheme, said he will use the seed money to start his fabrics design business, adding that with the economic situation of the country, everyone should be encouraged to engage in productive activity and that nobody should be idle.
