Kunle Adelabu
The Agency for Mass Education, the unit of the government in charge of vocational training and adult education, has begun another round of sensitization and advocacy in Ikorodu for residents to enroll and learn trades.
The team, which went round town, markets and major streets on Wednesday (yesterday), was joined by the officials of the Ikorodu Division Youth Initiatives (IDYI) to help in driving residents, especially youths, to take advantage of the skill acquisition centre.
The newly reconstructed vocational centre is located within the Etunrenren Primary School compound in Ikorodu.
According to the Agency official, enrolment at the third government-owned skill centres in Ikorodu, commences today (Thursday) for interested individuals to learn fashion designing, Embroidery, Hairdressing, Make – Over & Gele tying, Event Planning and Decoration, Soap Making Allied Products, Decorative Craft, Hair Barbing, Phone Repairing, Bread Making, Digital Skills, Catering, Millinery and Facinator Making.
According to the officials, enrolment and training are free.
Mrs Ayo Salu, Head of the Vocational unit of the Agency, who spoke with our reporter at the Centre, said that skill acquisition is the solution to many societal problems.
She charged residents to take good advantage of the opportunity provided by the Lagos State Government to empower themselves.
“The Lagos State Government has made available a big edifice as Etunrenren Vocational Centre for the people of Ikorodu and those whose parents do not have money to send them to the higher institution. It is absolutely free”, she said.
“It is an opportunity for them to learn a trade. It is the solution to youth restiveness and other social vices.
“If you go to the University or Polytechnic and you cannot get a job, we are saying that you come here to learn a trade instead of sitting down at home. Here is a place where you can acquire skills and be self-employed. Through that, you can also create employment for others.
“We are also trying to popularize vocational education which some people are looking at as a programme for the poor, the masses, the less privileged and people who can’t make it. But this is not the case.
“In this age and time, vocational education is the solution to many problems, especially economic ones. The moment that you are through with the training and self-employed, you can start making money and enjoying life.
“We are here today to let the entire Ikorodu people know that we now have a new facility here and that they should take advantage of it”, she further charged.
“We have gone round the town to let people know that this is here and that vocational education is the solution to unemployment ; eradicating poverty in Nigeria and the solution to sleeping and sitting at home doing nothing”.
She said that duration for the courses are three, six and nine months while charging stakeholders to assist the Agency in encouraging residents to enroll and learn a trade.
“People can come here to learn different trades which are of different durations – three, six and nine months which are good enough for today’s youths and economy like barbing, hairdressing and make – up art among many others”, she said.
“These programmes are absolutely free. They should just come in and register to learn trades that are world standard with good facilities. The government has made necessary equipment available and all that we need now is for Ikorodu people to come out and make good use of the place.
“My expectations from the stakeholders are to assist us in announcing this skill centre to everyone and encourage those in need to enroll and learn a trade.
“Usually, the government also empowers the best three students/trainees in all the courses. This is to motivate them”, she added.
A representative of the Ikorodu Division Youth Initiative (IDYI), Ganiu Hameed, described the opening of another skill acquisition centre in Ikorodu as an opportunity that residents, especially youths, should take advantage of in empowering themselves.
“This is another vocational centre at our door – step, so, residents in this area don’t need to move down to Aga or Oriwu road to attend a skill acquisition centre again”, he said.
“This is for the teeming youths and I plead that they should take advantage of the opportunity. These trainings that they offer here are of great need in our society. We all cut or dress our hair and we need barbers and hairdressers on a daily basis. Likewise, we wear clothes every day and we need a tailor to sew for us.
“Trainings that they are offering here today are needed on daily basis and our youths should take advantage of the additional vocational center provided by the government in Ikorodu.
“Learning trades will make our youths to be positively engaged and equipped and it is only when we are engaged that we can make our society a better place to live”.
The youth leader also suggested to those riding commercial motorcycles to also see the development as a means of acquiring skills and have alternative means of livelihood.
“Protesting Okada riders need to come here to learn trade so that they will have alternative work to do if the government eventually ban them”, he said.
“We are appreciative of the Lagos State Government for bringing another vocational center to us in Ikorodu”.
