Kunle Adelabu
The Chairman, House Committee on Defense, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has said that the 150 participants in the two weeks Skill Acquisition training at the National Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) have been empowered to contribute to national development.
He charged them to use the skills they have acquired during their training to create employment opportunities and remain competitive in the labour market by developing themselves.
The two – term lawmaker representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, made these statements in his speech as the Special Guest of Honour at the graduation ceremony for the third set of the iCare/NAFRC Skill Acquisition Training for youths in Ikorodu, on Friday, April 1, 2022.
The two weeks training, held at the NAFRC, Oshodi, saw participants learning Crop Production, Animal Husbandry, Bakery/Confectionery, Photography, Cosmetic , Paint making and Car Spraying.
According to the Officer – in – Charge of the training who presented participants to Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, Chairman, House Committee on Defense and facilitator of the training and Air Vice Marshal I.G. Lubo, Commandant of NAFRC who was represented by Major Gen. S.I. Gbinomwanhia, for graduation, he said that beneficiaries were also exposed to management and entrepreneurship trainings during the course of the training.
“Today, you have achieved an important breakthrough in your quest to be fruitful and productive in the support of national development”, Rep. Benson said.
“Today’s graduation ceremony is important to me as it marks the third graduation ceremony on skill acquisition powered by the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in conjunction with the iCARE Foundation initiative.
“I am reasonably aware of the tight programme you were all subjected to during the course of your training. I am also aware that the tight schedule of your training was aimed at making you gain considerably within the short period earmarked for your training.
“I personally believe that the graduation ceremony is a landmark in the life of every graduand as it marks the end of a formal training and skill acquisition phase and propels them into an opportunity phase where they seek to take advantage of their new knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world around them.
“You have successfully completed this course amidst tight schedules, this shows your commitment and resilience which are all attributes of your sound situational awareness in our dear country”, he said.
Rep. Benson charged participants to use the skills that they have acquired to create jobs and assist in resolving the unemployment situation in the country.
“You must think of a new way to tackle the problem of unemployment and lack of jobs caused by the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. You must acquire the necessary entrepreneurial skills to live a self-sustaining life amidst the global economic challenges”, he charged.
“Let me emphasize that the Skill Acquisition Training is to position you to remain relevant and stand competitive in the open market. Therefore, you must all keep in mind the aim of the training you have acquired and continue to develop your entrepreneurial skills to fully optimize the knowledge gained.
The Chairman, House Committee on Defense, commended NAFRC for impacting positively on their retired personnel and the civilian populace.
He called for the continuation of the skill training partnership with iCare Foundation for more youths to benefit and be transformed.
“I am very pleased that the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre has continued to deliver on its mandate of providing skill acquisition training to discharging personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the civil populace.
“It is our expectation that after your graduation from the Centre today, you will continue to bring positive feedback as you exploit the numerous entrepreneurial spaces for the future of our dear nation.
“I sincerely commend the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre for its relentless efforts at ensuring that this Skill Acquisition Training is being organized in accordance with the global best practices.
“Our graduands are now exposed to the latest trends in global entrepreneurship and management. I sincerely urge the Commandant to continue these laudable initiatives in partnership with iCARE Foundation to reduce the alarming number of unskilled persons in the nation”, he said.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the other participants,Ogunbiyi Mohammed Labaika, commended the NAFRC for the accommodation and training which he said has instilled discipline, focus and entrepreneurship in them.
He also thanked the facilitator of the training, Rep. Benson for his empowerment initiative for the youths.
“I would like to commend the initiator of the iCare Foundation, Hon. Babajimi Benson, for the initiation of this programme to impact and create positive – minded youths in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. It is a great pleasure to say that the opportuned beneficiaries of these great programmes have gone through different skills which would be of great benefit and make them self – reliant.
“iCare Foundation is building positive – minded youths and impacting them with knowledge to make them job providers.
“In the course of the training, participants have been impacted in terms of moral uprightness, decency, discipline and punctuality which happens to be the soul of all businesses.
“Sir, I will like to tell you that these participants have been transformed with knowledge that will lift them out of poverty”.
Awards were presented to the best participants in each category and also the overall best students.
All the participants were also presented with NAFRC Certificate of Completion with the initiator also supporting them with undisclosed sum.
