Ambode implores women to embrace vocational skill acquisition

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday urged women to embrace vocational and skill acquisition to empower themselves and contribute to the economic growth of the country.

Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, made the call at the 16th Annual Women’s Week of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) in Lagos.

The theme of the programme was “ Entrepreneurship : Remoulding Women’s Perception”.
The governor said that women empowerment was the surest way of securing the future of the country.
Our administration is committed to promoting and encouraging the acquisition of skills and vocational education as major instruments for women empowerment, job and wealth creation.

The newly created Ministry of Employment and Wealth Creation is in fulfillment of our electoral promise to make life better and comfortable for everybody.

The Ministry will identify and work with all stakeholders to promote trade and businesses among women, which will in turn provide employment and livelihood to a great number of people.

As a government, we will continue to support women by ensuring the provision of conducive atmosphere for the realisation of your potentials , ” he said.

Also, Alhaji Kamil Bolarinwa, President, NASFAT worldwide, said that women had a unique responsibility to the family, community and society at large, as they were the number one agent of socialisation and mobilisation.

Bolarinwa said that the weeklong programme was organised to sharpen and remould women in entrepreneurial skills to make them economically independent.

According to him, if women fail in their duty, the society will definitely be in trouble.
Bolarinwa urged Muslim women to always cover their heads as Hijab was the Creator’s directive that must be obeyed and non-negotiable.

A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity– which signifies good moral character, dignity and self-esteem.

I call for the understanding of those who are in authority inspite of the current challenges of terrorism,” he said.

In his remarks, Sheikh Abdullahi Akinbode, Chief Missioner, urged NASFAT society to imbibe the virtues of honesty, humility, integrity and fairness in whatever business or trade they want to adopt.

Akinbode also urged them to strive to make Islamic tenets and injunctions the basis of their personal and family lives.
Alhaja Samiat Mumuni, National Women Affairs Secretary, NASFAT said that the NASFAT Women’s Week was an annual programme aimed at sensitising Muslim women on the unique values of their faith and roles in building the society.

Mumuni said the programme was also a vehicle to enlighten Muslims, government at all levels, and the general public, on issues of interest in the empowerment, social integration and community development.

She said that the role of women in human capacity building and the development of society could not be over emphasised
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the 16th Annual Women’s Week 2015 of NASFAT featured weeklong activities of vocational and skill acquisition programmes geared toward women development.