Four hundred and twenty nine (429) People from Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency are presently undergoing vocational training in preparation for empowerment to establish businesses of their own.
The legislator representing Ibadan North East/South East federal constituency in the House of Representatives Abuja, Hon. Adedapo Lam-Adesina is set to redeem one of the critical fulcrum of his 8point cardinal programme as he has kick started the vocational training of the unemployed in fashion designing, mechanical grinding,small scale businesses and tricycle riding at his two constituency offices in Ibadan.
Hon. Dapo Lam-Adesina who is a member of the House Committees on Poverty Alleviation and Labour,Productivity & Employment lamented the present astronomical rate of unemployment in the country where 27% of skilled and unskilled youths are jobless, owing to poor statistical population planning by previous concerned authorities. "The realities are evidently clear, whether you are educationally qualified or not, government cannot absorb everybody as it is, as such we have to collectively design a path to engage ourselves for self-reliance, creative enterprising and economic empowerment to reducing the poverty index”
He however opined that “The era of just giving empowerment or grants for business without requisite training to ensure success is gone. This is why we are training youths and women to have some guidelines on how they can make a success of opportunities available to them”. Adding that the training Programme is meant to prepare beneficiaries for the rudiment of business management.
Stressing further, "Ours is a creatively designed Programme to liberate our people via vocational training and skill acquisition, and we consulted widely with relevant stakeholders like The Nigerian Union of Tailors (NUT), National Society of Professional Tailors (NSPT), Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders and Owners Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Pepper and Corn Millers Grinding Association (PCMGA).
The scheme is divided into three critical and fundamental stages; Rigorous in-house training at our two constituency offices with practicals at designated offices of trainers; Empowerment with professional equipment like Sewing Machines, Grinding machines,funds for business set up or upgrade and Bajaj Tricycles; Supervisory Monitoring/Evaluation after distribution of materials to make sure equipment are not sold by beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries were widely selected across the constituency from youth organizations, Community Development Council (CDC), Religious and Community leaders, Political Parties, Pressure groups and Trade unions who were personally screened by the Young Legislator to confirm their eligibility as bona-fide constituents.Mrs Lola Alade; a fashion designer trainer representing NUT from Ibadan South East LG and Mr. Taiwo Afolabi; the PRO of NSPT in Ibadan North East LG both lauded the unique and distinct approach of the Federal Lawmaker in tackling the massive unemployment menace and youth restiveness in our society. They encouraged other public office holders to emulate the worthy gestures of the Omo Oloore proponent.
Similarly, Mr. Idowu Olaoye of PCMGA appreciated Hon. Dapo Lam for partnering with their association and consequently pledged to train and play the supervisory role in monitoring the performance growth of the beneficiaries.
The empowerment/graduation programme will be held before the end of March 2016.
