The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola, CON, has trained and empowered about 3,500 youths and women drawn from the five Local Government Areas that make up Ogun West.
At the event, which took place on Monday 21st November, 2022, at Asade Agunloye Modern Pavillion, Empire Field, Ilaro, Senator Adeola organised the training and empowerment programme in conjunction with Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Technology and National Productive Centre, Abuja.
The 3500 participants, who were trained in their preferred vocations, were empowered with equipment and in addition a total sum of N130 million as startup funds.
In his address at the empowerment programme, Senator Adeola said, ” It is with great pleasure that I address you on this occasion marking yet another empowerment programme for some of my people, particularly the youths and womenfolk. Before this event, I have trained and empowered many youths in the area of ICT with each participant going home with laptop. Many are also scheduled to commence training in this important area of skill acquisition at Sagamu next month. I am therefore joyful to witness this event targeted at skills acquisition in eleven areas of various skills acquisition and vocations”.
“The process for selection and training, which is still continuing in various centers started in the first week of October with collection and submission of forms by applicants and subsequent selection for various trainings in 11 different vocations. The trainings were brought close to the people as youths and women were trained at Ilaro, Ipokia, Imeko, Ado Odo Ota, and Aiyetoro representing the 5 LGAs in Ogun West.”
“The target is for gainful employment for youths and women irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations in Ogun West. I am happy that I have been doing this type of interventions including major capital projects like the venue of this event and a research library at Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, even before I was given the mandate of my people in this senatorial district. Indeed, this is a demonstration of what lies ahead for my people when I eventually become their representative at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.”
“As a legislator of over 19 years at the State and Federal level, I have made it of paramount importance that as many youths and women as possible are given requisite skills and empowered to established them in gainful self-employment. In our present situation, in addition to good education, skills of various kind are advantages in generating income and combating rising employment and under-employment. Towards this end, many trainings for skill acquisition, entrepreneurship development and ICT as well as empowerment with equipment are ways that I achieve effective representation. To the glory of God, tens of thousands have benefited from these programmes facilitated by me and God willing, with your support and mandate, many more thousands will benefit when I become your representative next year.”
“Today, in conjunction with Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Technology and National Productive Centre, Abuja, a total number of 3500 trained participants in their preferred vocations will be empowered with equipment and in addition a total sum of N130 million as startup funds as follows:
*Hair Dressing: Standing Hairdryer, Standing Hair Washing Basin and Startup fund.
*Fashion: Sewing Machine and Startup Fund
* Leather Work: Leather Sewing Machine and Seed Fund
*Makeup and Gele: Professional Make Up Kit and Seed Fund
*Confectionaries/Catering: Cooking Gas Cylinder, Double face Gas Burner, Sets of pots, cooking utensils and Startup Fund
*Fish Production: Startup Fund to start Fishery Business
*Interior Decoration/Event Planning: Startup Fund to start business
* Agric Value Chain: Startup Capital to start Production of agro-allied products
* Solar Energy Business: Startup Fund to begin business”
“It is my hope that many of the participants to be empowered here will soon be in the business of producing locally made goods and services at the level of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).”
“Let me state that beneficiaries of these training programme and empowerment were selected devoid of any partisan considerations. Public announcements on mainstream and social media were made for interested applicants to apply and selection was based on the indicated interests of participants on a first come, first serve basis. We also ensured that there was even spread across all the 5 LGAs of Ogun West based on indication of interest by participants.”
I will continue to deliver effective representation as a legislator in this era of democracy as I look forward to further service for the benefit of my people at large. I congratulate all the beneficiaries of this programme and urge them to diligently apply the skills learnt in course of their training for their socio-economic advancement of themselves and indeed the advancement in the society. The slogan is start small and grow big. Please shun the temptation of selling empowerment equipment for quick cash that will not multiply” Senator Solomon Adeola concluded.