Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-As Lawmaker gets commendations from beneficiaries
The saying, ‘teach people how to fish and not giving them fish’, could best describe the reason behind Rep. Babajimi Benson, the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, resolve to facilitate solar power training for his constituents recently.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defense, has been facilitating various empowerment programmes and supportive items for thousands of his constituents, including solar powered pack which contained fan, bulbs, mini radio and torchlight among others, recently facilitated a training for youths in lkorodu, to be able them acquire skills that will enable them produce solar equipment, with the aim of empowering them and reduce their dependency status.
At the training, which provided in partnership with the SCI Altar Limited and Access Bank, was held at the Ikorodu Town Hall, Ikorodu, 150 Ikorodu constituents were trained and empowered with the solar skills.
Ikorodu constituents between the age of 24 and 45 years, participated in the training themed, ‘Productive Use Of Local Solar Lamp Training’.
Mojoyinoluwa Adekunle, Business Manager, Operations, SCI Altar Limited, commended Rep. Babajimi Benson, the three – term lawmaker and Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, the Director – General iCare Foundation, for their interest in developing and empowering youths in their constituency, with skills.
The lead facilitator, Mr Abiodun Ojobara, commended the participants for their interest and desire to learn the skills.
“To be honest with you, the training is life impacting, and we are looking at productive use of alternative energy. I am impressed with the participants, because they put their mind into the exercise”, he said.
“What we are trying to do is a small simple solar lamb that is powered with solar. I am happy seeing them (participants) connecting solar power together in series to give them the voltage that they want. Everyone is putting in their best to make sure it works.
“They are also looking at it as an opportunity which can be turned into a business and start making solar lamps, making it worthwhile for them in terms of income”, he said.
He explained further that after training, participants were given components to work on and commended their enthusiasm to learn.
“Everybody is happy about the project and passionate. Each of them were given components to work on, because we did not want them to be sharing components, so, it made things easier and fun for them with the mindset that they are the ones doing these and that.
“So, it must work out,so that they can start putting what they have learnt nto practice. Considering the numbers of people that we trained, it’s going to have great impact on the society.
“So, I must say it was an enriching experience and as for me as the facilitator, I am happy to train them.
“It is all about impacting lives in the community and this is a great project. It is something that needs to be done in many other places, not just in Lagos but in Nigeria as a whole”, he said.
The facilitator charged participants on the need to make use of the knowledge acquired and turn it into a gold mine.
“My advice to the participants is to take this knowledge forward and they should be creative about the products that they are going to be making. They should put a business case around it as we have explain to them, and if they do that, the sky is the starting point for them”, the facilitator charged.
Yusuf Ibrahim Abiodun, one of the beneficiaries from Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the programme came at the right time, adding that it would help in tackling the climatic change challenges and provide people with alternative source of income.
“The initiative came at the right time. As you know, people have been complaining around the world about climate change, and we all can see the repercussions on human beings and our atmospheres”, he said.
“Going into solar equipment production is a good way to stop this climate change and to reduce the temperature.
“You can see our weather, coupled with the fact that we don’t usually have electricity which has forced us into using diesel, gas, fuel and coal to power electricity, with its negative effects on us. So, going this way to develop people with the ability to make solar, is a very good way to address the challenges affecting the climate.
“Through this training, I have learnt a lot on how to construct a mini local solar panel to be used as a backup for power supply at home and work places as well”, he added.
He charged the organisers to sustain the initiative so that other people can learn the skills.
“My message to the organisers is to improve on this initiative in terms of spread to the communities through the CDAs and schools. Giving students knowledge like this makes it easy to catch them young. If you go to China, you will see most of the secondary schools or primary schools where they learnt skills right from their basic schools.Through this, we can solve the problem in general”, he said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Nana Ogunnaike from Ikorodu LG, said that the training is highly innovative, describing it as another capacity building to improve the social and economic lives of people and the Nigerian society.
“This process is quite innovative and very ideal. Infact, I really enjoy myself. I was able to add more to my knowledge, and I really give kudos to the organizers for this initiative”, she said.
“My intention is to impact the knowledge acquired here on my son and others when I get back home. I am very glad for this. It is highly innovative. I have learnt about positive and negative energy. I learnt about the parallel and the series connections among other things”, she added.
She too called for the sustenance of the training so as to develop skillful communities and nation.
“My message to the organisers is to deepen the training so that more people can learn the skills. Nigerians need to learn innovative ways like this. Look at China where a three-year-old can make lamp”, she said.
“We need to domicile innovative ideas like this. We cannot depend on others for everything. We need to develop our own ideas; to develop our skills, and the best way to do that is by teaching skills”.
Mr Alloyus from Ishawo area of Ikorodu West LCDA, also stated:
“The process is wonderful and an interesting one, because a lot have been taught. Now, we can actually manufacture our energy by ourselves without depending on external bodies or outsourcing from other countries. If we put more efforts, what we will need is just resources that will boost our production”.
Like other beneficiaries, she also charged organisers on the need to continue the laudable training in order to empower more youths.
