Ogun empowers 60 women with skills, start-up tools 

Having recognised the significance of vocational training and skills acquisition among citizens, Ogun State government is in aggressive ‎move to boost entrepreneurship through training and acquisition of vocational skills among women and the youth resident in the state in order to create more direct and indirect jobs.

Consequently, the state government has made provision for the construction of more development centres for women and the youth across the state, with‎ a view to training and empowering them on various vocations such as catering, hairdressing, barbing, fashion designing, among others, just as start-up tools and funds are also made available to them to ensure they do not languish in the labour market .

Speaking in Abeokuta at the graduation of 60 women trainees who underwent vocational trainings for nine months, Nike Osoba, special adviser to Ogun State governor, said government was in aggressive move to ensure that women and the youth were self-reliant and self-dependent through inculcation and transfer of vocational ‎skills to jobless residents of the state.

Osoba, who was represented by Kayode Akinola,  director in the ministry, explained that the skills and vocational training was aimed at empowering them as well as making people productive while also creating wealth at the grassroots level, adding that the training would provide opportunities for others and lead to economic growth of the state.

Osoba noted that the state government did not only train the 60 women and the youth,  but also empowered the trainees with ‎start-up tools, including hair dryers, hair dressing machines, sewing machines, catering equipment, decoration tools, among other equipment, adding that N90,000 was granted to the trainees as start-up fund.

Speaking earlier, Ganiyu Lawal, permanent secretary in the ministry, said the positive step taken by Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led government to ameliorate the pains and agony of the masses could not be wished away, urging the beneficiaries to make good use of facilities at their disposal in order to join government and fight poverty in the state.

Omobolaji Lasisi, one of the beneficiaries, said the empowerment programme was worthwhile as it was put in place to make them economically self- dependent and self-reliant. Lasisi said she and other trainees would maximise the opportunities and advantages given to them at the training to realise their entrepreneurial dreams and potentialities.

RAZAQ AYINLA