Adebule Trains, Empowers 1000 Youths, Women

The Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Dr Idiat Adebule, in conjuction with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFRI) have trained about 1000 youths and women on different vocational skills such as fashion, barbing, confectionery , Leather Works and Hairdressing. The trainees were also empowered with different startup packs.

Speaking during the distribution of the empowerment materials, Adebule stated that the initiative was in ulfillment of the promise made during her engagement with stakeholders on August 27, 2024.

She added that this demonstrated her commitment to empowering women and youths, aligning with the Lagos State Government’s initiatives to promote women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.

Adebule assured that more trainings and empowerment programmes are on the way for constituents in Lagos West.

“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”, she said.

The senator called on everyone to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu noting that the empowerment is all part of his initiatives. She said: “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 the 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”.

Sen Adebule urged the beneficiaries to recognize the life-changing opportunity provided and make the best of it. She emphasised the importance of business ethics, including integrity and delayed gratification, and encouraged them to be excellent in their endeavors.

“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 recognize 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 actualize 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.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Cornelius Ojelabi, including members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Dr Abayomi Finnih and Cardinal James Odunmbaku commended the senator for the initiative imploring beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity.

They urged them to make good use of the equipment handed over to them and never consider the thought of selling them as it would defeat the essence of the training and empowerment.

One of the beneficiaries, Habeebat Oladipo expressed gratitude to the senator, promising to make good use of the cooking gas and equipments given to her judiciously. Another beneficiary, Israel Adedoyin lauded the initiative, expressing hope for more to come.