For the beneficiaries of the senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District at the national assembly, Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule, empowerment programme, 18 November will remain memorable in their lives as the senator doles out empowerment tools to a thousand of youths and women at the Lagos Television Blue Roof, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos.
The beneficiaries, youths and women and even persons living with disabilities radiated joy and excitement all through the day as the senator gave them their different empowerment tools and start up grants.
The senator had earlier in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFRI) trained the 1000 youths and women on different vocational skills such as fashion, barbing, confectionery, leather works and hairdressing.
Speaking at the beautifully decorated Blue Roof venue of the event, Adebule hinted that the initiative is in fulfilment of her electoral promises to the constituents.
The former deputy governor of Lagos and secretary to the state government, said the initiative demonstrate her strong desire and commitment to promote youths and women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.
Senator Adebule said the empowerment programme is just the beginning of more trainings and empowerment programmes for the most populous constituents in Nigeria.
She said; “today’s event is therefore, to distribute work tools and equipment as starter packs to these one thousand (1000) participants. These tools and equipment include sewing machines, gas cylinders, burners and cooking wares, equator hair dryers, leather sewing machines, barbing clippers and generators.”
Adding; “The significance of this training and empowerment programme is the fact that one thousand youths and women will be leaving the unemployment market 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 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 definitely come and in bounties”.
Senator Adebule urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the tools and startup grants, saying it is a life-change opportunity that if we’ll use, it would take them off the streets to become self reliance.
“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 dream, please make the best of it. I urge you to be the excellence you desire to see in our country as that journey starts with me and you”, she advised.
She lauded the training partners and consultants for “their dedication to this programme”.
The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Dr Abayomi Finnih and Cardinal James Odunmbaku commended the Senator for the initiative.
Pastor Ojelabi urged the beneficiaries to respocate the getsure by ensuring they use the tools for the purpose it was given.
He equally told the gathering of more government efforts to transform the lives of youths and women to become self sufficient.
