The Lagos Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has concluded a four-week skill acquisition training programme organised for 250 vulnerable women and youths from several communities in the Epe Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the programme held at the Local GovernmeSecretariat, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada said the only viable and proficient way to ease the plights of vulnerable women and youths across the metropolis is to invest in vocational training using local resources to increase participants’ financial sustainability.
Dada, who was represented at the ceremony by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, said the training, which also ran simultaneously in five selected centres across the State, is expected to benefit no fewer than 1,500 participants in Lagos.
She added that the short and long-term training programmes were specifically designed to serve as part of the State Government’s poverty reduction strategy in its renewed effort to give vulnerable women and youths in the state vocations that would make them economically independent.
The Commissioner said that the State Government has intensified its efforts to drastically alleviate poverty in all forms amongst residents, especially for women, due to the significant roles they play at home and in shaping society.
Her words: “The Lagos State Government has embarked on vocational training for women, men and youths for financial growth to curb unemployment and empower citizens towards self-reliance in a bid to achieve a viable economy. Over 12,250 residents have benefited from the short and long-term skills acquisition programmes since 2019. Some of the graduands are now contributing to the welfare of their families and socio-economic development of the State”.
She admonished the beneficiaries never to stop learning, saying “Do not think that your training ends here. You should continue to sharpen your skills so that you become masters of your craft”.
While reiterating the need for continuous self-development, Dada implored participants to adopt the entrepreneurial skills they were taught during the training and acquire adequate knowledge about proper bookkeeping in order to access loans through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
The Commissioner also called on prospective students, particularly the unemployed or underemployed, to enrol in any of the 19 Skills Acquisition Centres across the state, offering 6 or 12 months vocational training programmes to become financially self-dependent.
In her address, the Executive Chairman, Epe Local Government Area, Princess Surah Animashaun, who was represented by the Council Manager, Mr. Bakare Olakunle, commended the State Government for the initiative geared toward improving the lives of the people of the Epe Community.
She said: “I am very impressed by what WAPA has done for my people and I will ensure that the beneficiaries share their wealth of knowledge with others to create a chain of empowerment. Also, I encourage you all to maximise your acquired knowledge and skills, so that you can bring glory to Epe Local Government, through your crafts”.
The beneficiaries were awarded Certificates of Competency and given Starter Packs for wig-making and hair-braiding, make-up and gele tying, tie and dye, catering and confectionaries, garments stoning and embellishments, household products, ankara craft and interior decoration among many other crafts.
