Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-Solicit support for aspiration
50 youths in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) were last week certified skillful in some vocational training by a Chairmanship aspirant for the council, Mr Shakiru Moritan Seidu (SMS), in commemoration of his 51st birthday anniversary.
The weeklong training involved Beading Embellishment on cloth, Event Decoration, Creative Design and Branding, and Soap Making among others, with graduands presented with certificates at a grand ceremony at the Adeboruwa palace, Igbogbo.
Seidu, welcoming the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali and other gests to his 51st birthday/Graduation ceremony for the graduands of his free skill acquisition programme, said that the initiative was meant to address unemployment challenges and develop productive youths.
“As we gather here today, we come together to discuss one of the most important topics in our country today and this centres on skill acquisition. Skill acquisition is not just a necessity but a key factor in driving economic development. It is through the Empowerment of our youths and the equipping of our people with the skills they need that we can build a sustainable and prosperous future.
“By focusing on education and skill development, Nigeria can create job opportunities, reduce poverty, and ultimately drive sustainable economic growth.
“In commemoration of my 51th birthday, I launch the skill -up Igbogbo program to equip our youths in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, with the skills necessary to thrive in this ever-evolving world. This initiative provides training in various fields, ranging from beading embellishments on cloth, event decoration, creative design and branding, soap making etc.
“By ensuring that our people are empowered to succeed, we will foster a generation that is self-reliant and capable of driving economic growth.
The celebrant, stating that his intention is to empower the beneficiaries and make them agents change to themselves and the society at large, also solicited the support of guests at the ceremony for his aspiration to become the Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA in the coming local government elections.
“By enabling our youths to aquire marketable skills, we are helping them to become agents of change in their own lives and in society at large. As we invest in their growth, we are also investing in the future prosperity of our nation.
“This initiative will lay the foundation for a new generation of innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs who will drive economic progress and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
“It is no longer news that I inspire for the position of chairmanship of igbogbo/bayeku LCDA, l humbly seek your support in bringing this vision to life. My dream is not merely to serve as your chairman but to serve with a genuine desire to uplift our community.
“As I seek the honour of serving as the chairman of our great local council development area, I do so with a deep sense of responsibility and a heartfelt commitment to the well-being of every resident in igbogbo/bayeku. My desire to serve is driven more just the ambition to hold a title. It is motivated by the genuine aspiration to bring about transformative change in our community
“As we approach the upcoming elections, I ask for your support, not just for me, but for the future of our community. Let us come together and make a lasting impact on the lives of our children, our youth, and the generation to come. Together, we can transform igbogbo/bayeku LCDA into a community that thrives on the strength of its people, the resilience of its leaders, and power of skill acquisition”, Seidu said.
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, in his royal remarks to the beneficiaries of the skill acquisition training, said that the best way to improve is to engage in continuous training and seek further knowledge on the skills acquired.
The royal father, who said that there is scarcity of white -collar job which might not even be adequate to address employees’ needs, charged them to hold tight to their skills which are always needed.
Oba Kasali congratulated them for their patience in learning the skills and being empowered.
Kabiyesi, congratulating the celebrant, charged him to continue to thrive to be the best and impact on the development of his community.
Basorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, encouraged the graduands to go into partnership and collaboration to improve themselves and expand their businesses.
He called on them to continually update their knowledge by going for further training to improve their skills.
While speaking on the celebrant’s aspiration, Basorun Rotinwa charged him and other aspirants to develop foresight by looking into the impacts of such in future before embarking on it.
Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, the Executive Assistant to the Governor of Lagos on Parking Management who was the guest speaker at the celebration, commended the celebrant for the initiative and congratulated the graduands.
Engaging the graduands, the speaker charged them to develop goodwill power and the resilience to make good use of the knowledge that has been imparted in them
He charged them to always deliver good quality and creative job to their clients and develop good brands that would bring them good patronage.
Sanwoola also enjoined them to always engage in putting into practical the knowledge acquired, maximise it and strive to improve at all time by thinking of ways of giving their customers maximum satisfaction.
The guest speaker also enjoined the graduands to always ensure that they call their prospective customers to action whenever they put out their brands to promote products and services by specifying what they are expecting of them and provide them with contacts.
He encouraged them to make use of the internet to learn more and improve on personal level and their business branding.
The Special Adviser to Senator Abiru on Media, Mr Enitan Olukotun, in his own remarks, also emphasized the need for creative thinking and designs if the graduands will be successful in their trades.
He commended the celebrant for deeming it fit to empower the graduands whom he said that have no reason not to be positively engaged after their training.
Comrade Japheth Odesanya, Chairmanship aspirant for Ikorodu Local Government, extended his warm congratulations to the celebrant and wished him more fruitful celebrations.
He said that there is no work better than when one lives on his/her skill, while congratulating and charging the graduands to hold on to the knowledge and skills acquired and use them to better their economic and social conditions.
Odofin Tajudeen Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogbo, Otunba Kazeem Ogbara, the Asoju Oba of Ikorodu and Dr Adeleke Dankuwo, President, Igbogbo Youth Coalition (IYC) also charged the graduands to take advantage of the opportunity given to them by the aspirant, improve on it and use it to advance their own lives and contribute meaningfully to the society.
They congratulated the celebrant and thanked him for empowering the youths.
Some of the other guests that graced the occasion were Mr Deji Osho, Chairmanship aspirant for Ikorodu LG, Prince Adedoyin Jokotex, Chairmanship aspirant, Ikorodu North LCDA, and Mr Adedamola Olaribigbe, Publisher, Starlight newspaper among others.
