The Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has distributed sewing machines, locally made ovens, pedicure boxes, stoning machines, and industrial burners, among others, to over 300 trainees in different vocational skills.
The trainees which include out-of-school children, unemployed youths, and women were trained in fashion designing, catering, hairdressing, cosmetology and beauty care.
The commissioner in the ministry, Adijat Adeleye, who spoke during the graduation ceremony and distribution of the items at the Women Development Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, said the empowerment is to make them financially independent.
Adeleye explained that the skills acquired were tools for personal advancement critical for the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs.
She maintained that the importance of vocational training cannot be overemphasised, serving as an alternative means of livelihood for the majority of people at present.
“I want you to make adequate use of the knowledge and skill acquired. It is important to embrace entrepreneurship with confidence and creativity in developing solutions that can turn needs into opportunities,” she said.
In her goodwill message, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs Ayotunde Lawal, pointed out that the state government was determined to improve the livelihood of youth and women through the acquisition of vocational skills, imploring the graduands to make judicious use of the opportunities.
In her opening remarks, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs Adejumoke Adewole, said the programme was designed to equip trainees with practical skills that were not only marketable but essential for the growth of our local economy, stating that the provision of quality vocational training for unemployed youths would make them to be self-reliant, confident and capable of contributing positively to society.
Speaking, some of the graduands, Barakat Adeniyi, Racheal Ajayi, Olorunda Sesan and Olabide Taiwo, trained in hairdressing, fashion designing, catering, cosmetology and beauty care respectively, expressed joy for achieving their dreams and appreciated Governor Dapo Abiodun for providing an avenue that would make them to be independent and contribute their quota to the development of the state.