The senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Dr Idiat Adebule, has trained 1,000 youths and women in various vocational skills.
The lawmaker carried out the training in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFRI).
She also empowered the beneficiaries, who were trained in fashion, barbing, confectionery, leather works, and hairdressing, with startup packs for their respective vocations.
Dr Adebule said during the distribution of the empowerment materials in Lagos on Monday that the initiative was a fulfillment of the promise made during her engagement with stakeholders on 27 August 2024.
She stated that the gesture was in demonstration of her commitment to empowering women and youths, in alignment with the Lagos State government’s initiatives to promote women empowerment and entrepreneurship.
Senator Adebule gave the assurance that more training and empowerment programs are on the way for her fellow constituents in Lagos West.
“Today’s event is to distribute work tools and equipment as starter packs to these 1,000) participants. These tools and equipment include sewing machines, gas cylinders, burners and cooking wares, equator hair dryers, leather sewing machines, barbing clippers and generators,” she said.
The senator called on everyone to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, saying that the empowerment was part of his initiatives.
She said: “The significance of this training and empowerment programme is the fact that one thousand youths and women will be leaving unemployment to become self-employed, earn decent living, contribute to the economic development of our country and also employ other young people.
“To my mind, this is one of the practical means of creating gainful employment for the youths and thereby gradually eradicating poverty as well as crime and other social vices from our country, in consonance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“I wish to remind us again that President Tinubu’s administration is doing a lot to build a resilient economy that will provide better and sustainable opportunities for all Nigerians.
“Reforms can be painful and difficult, but with patience, persistence, and hard work, the gains will come and in bounties.”
Senator Adebule urged the beneficiaries to recognise the life-changing opportunity provided and make the most of it.
She emphasised the importance of business ethics, including integrity and delayed gratification, and encouraged them to be excellent in their endeavours.
“I urge you to see this gesture as a life-changing opportunity which you must embrace and take advantage of to uplift yourself, your family and ultimately your communities.
“There are verified stories of people who started business with little or nothing but today are giants in the business world. What defines them is their ability to recognise and take advantage of opportunities like this one we are providing you, imbibe the ethics of business, including integrity, delayed gratification as well as separating business from family and pleasure.
“This is your opportunity to actualise your dreams. Please, make the most of it. I urge you to be the excellence you desire to see in our country as that journey starts with you and me.”
The legislators commended the training partners and consultants for “their dedication to this programme.”
The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Cornelius Ojelabi; members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Dr. Abayomi Finnih and Cardinal James Odunmbaku, praised the senator for the initiative and charged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity, make good use of the equipment handed over to them and never consider the thought of selling them as it would defeat the essence of the training and empowerment.
One of the beneficiaries, Habeebat Oladipo, expressed gratitude to the senator and promised to use the cooking gas and equipment judiciously.
Another beneficiary, Israel Adedoyin, lauded the initiative and expressed hope for more to come.
