Kunle Adelabu
The Coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area chapter, Comrade Asoro Abubakri Olatunji, has, once again, called on Council Chairman, Princess Adejumoke Jimbo-Ademaing to rehabilitate the only empowerment centre in the council for the use of the youths.
Asoro made the call at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum meeting which was held at the Council Secretariat hall on December 28, 2020, and attended by the Community Development Committee (CDC), LASCOTA, Baales, market leaders and other stakeholders at the council.
The youths of Ikorodu West LCDA over the years have been calling on the council for the rehabilitation of the Empowerment Centre located opposite F1 Bar/Mobil Petrol Station, Ipakodo, Ikorodu West LCDA.
While addressing stakeholders at the meeting, Comrade Asoro urged the Ademehin’s administration to make the centre’s rehabilitation part of its legacies.
“First and foremost, let me commend the Chairman, executive council and management team on the new legacy projects being embarked upon in the LCDA. We appeal to your leadership that the rehabilitation of the Ebute empowerment centre will be another legacy that will outlive your tenure of office.
“Let me give you a background history. In the whole of Ikorodu Division, only Ikorodu West LCDA did not have a youth centre, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA has about 2 and other LCDAs like that, the only one Ikorodu West has is dilapidated”.
He noted that previous efforts made by the youth council to draw the attention of the state government, through the Ministry of Youths, to the project failed due to the unwillingness of the then LCDA leadership to concede the property to the state government.
On the way forward, Com. Asoro proposed a partnership between the council and private developers to bring the facility, which was created to train about five skill programmes, back to good shape.
“We are proposing a Public Private Partnership where developers can make use of some parts for shopping malls while the rest is used as empowerment centres”.
Speaking further, the Youth Coordinator requested the council and the state government to make takeoff grants available to youths who must have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis but have business ideas.
“Ma, about a month ago when you launched our job portal, we told you we have a section where we requested youths with business ideas to come forward and upload their details.
“As we speak, we have more than a hundred applicants. We are requesting for a started – up grant to be included in the 2021 budget so as to help these youths”, he said.
Speaking with Hon. (Princess) Jumoke Jimbo – Ademehin on phone on Monday, January 4, 2021, she stated that her administration is committed to rehabilitation and making the vocational centre functional.
She told THE IMPACT that her administration has already commenced working towards bringing back the centre to life and making it impact on the youths and generality of the community.
“We have been planning to bring the centre back to life and we are engaging contractors to achieve that”, Hon. Ademehin told our reporter on the phone.
“Actually, we have it in our plans to rehabilitate the centre and make it functional so as to engage our youths in vocational training, but we were expecting a federal project that was pledged to be located within the centre but which is not forthcoming.
“I can assure you that we have contacted contractors to see how to bring the place back to life and impact on the community.
“Our administration is doing everything possible to ensure that all aspects of the community are engaged and satisfied”, Hon. Ademehin said.
