LASG partners Betti-O Foundation to train, empower 50 youths

The Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment Sustainable Development Programme in collaboration with the Betti Okuboyejo Foundation (Betti-O School of Fashion) have collaborated to train and empower 50 youths, 47 women and three men in fashion designing and garment making for six months.

At an opening ceremony held in the Ruff ‘n’ Tumble Flagship store in Lagos to formally launch the programme, founder of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Adenike Ogunlesi, said she was immensely proud of the partnership as it was going to change the lives of the lucky students, urging them to enjoy the creation of the future they would craft out for themselves.

The Betti-Okuboyejo Foundation is a non-governmental, not for profit organization and an affiliate of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble; where young individuals are trained in the art of fashion design, garment making and are empowered with skills to become successful individuals with the capacity to influence and drive change.

Addressing the students, Ogunlesi said she has been in the fashion and garment industry for 35 years, so there is a heritage of excellence in the program. “It is deliberately named after my late mother, Elizabeth Okuboyejo, who was the chief driver of excellence in my life. These students would be exposed to discipline, professionalism, skills that would ensure they can add value wherever they find themselves because they would be taught how to create value.

“They would learn how to cut, stitch, run simple bookkeeping accounts that ensure they are able to keep their books going, because cash flow is the bloodline of any business. If they don’t learn about money and they have the skill, it is useless. It is a full complete program that will also teach customer service and the need to be professional in whatever they do. We will teach them self-discovery so they gain belief in themselves. It is a well-rounded program and it is a great honour to partner with Lagos State.

“We will empower them with the necessary tool-kits they would need when they finish, the state would also afford them the opportunity of loan facility at 5 just percent interest. I am happy most of them are women as women have a strong role to play in nation building,” she said.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said they discovered that fashion is an important tool in wealth creation and development, hence the collaboration with the Betty-O foundation. “We chose 50 from the hundreds that applied for this program; they will be trained for the next six months and empowered at the end with machines and other tools of the trade. We want the students to see this as a golden opportunity and make the best use of it.”

She added that the state government, through the ministry is planning to establish a garment production hub where garment-making companies will site factories for exportation purposes in the near future.

“It is our hope that the students use the opportunity given them well and they in turn become employers of labour.”

The director of entrepreneurship, Lagos State, Taiwo Abiose, told the students that they would be entitled to a N250,000 start-up grant at just 5% interest to enable them get on their feet with three months honorarium. She told them to “Have a growth mindset. Ask questions because a closed mouth is a closed destiny. Don’t be ashamed of asking questions and wanting to know more.”

The programme was rounded up with a factory inspection as the commissioner and other directors were taken round the premises to witness first-hand the work behind the scenes.

Other directors present at the launch included Omolola Kaka (Head of Partnership), Seriki Bello (Director of Employment), Doyin Oseni (Director of Accounts) and Enitan Adewunmi (Director of Public Affairs) amongst others.