Kunle Adelabu
-As another 88 vocational graduates
The Executive Chairman, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba has again empowered 88 residents with the equipment of their trades after months of training on Wednesday.
The beneficiaries who are graduates of Igbe Ogunro Vocational Training Centre have mastered the art and crafts in different vocational skills in fashion design, hair dressing, barbing, catering, make- up , Gele tying, tiling , bead making and production.
The trainees were presented with Sewing Machine, Hair Dryer, Hand Dryer, Mannequin Head with hair, Hair Shampoo, Hair Conditioner, Hair Cream, Hair Attachment, Makeup Box with Kits,Table Top cake mixer, Grinder/Blender, Frying pans, Camp gas, Plastic drums with cover, Plastic basins, Turning Stick, Different kinds of Chemicals for multi-purpose liquid soap, Insecticide, Toilet cleaner and disinfectants, Clippers, Barber’s aprons, Brush, White powder, Hair / Coloured dye, Mixing bowl,, Different kinds of beads, Plyers, Cutter, Fishing line, Elastic fishing line, plastic Bead containers, Tiles-cutting machine. Others are Electronic Scale, Hydrometer, Measuring jug and Soap mould at the 4th graduation ceremony held at the Ijede LCDA secretariat, to assist them in starting their own businesses.
Hon. Alogba at the event which has been the tradition of her administration since she came into the office, said that empowerment is needed to address the critical economic challenges.
“To me, this Programme is timely and critical at this stage of economic challenges, more importantly as it is in tandem with our mission of empowering our people in Ijede LCDA.
“This administration is committed to Poverty alleviation, Economic empowerment , Financial independence and Job creation for our people, that is why we take the business of Empowerment very seriously.
“Here at our vocational training centre we don’t only train ,we equip trainees and monitor their progress until they are fully established.”
“The Ijede LCDA chairman narrated with the joy of accomplishment, “I’m glad to inform you that our former trainees are doing very well in their respective fields and they are now giving back to the community.
“These are all testimonies of our commitment to the development of our people”, she said.
While assuring guests and resident leaders that her administration will continue to prioritise vocational training, the young council boss said that the effort is to complement the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu:
“I must say it is our deliberate effort to complement Governor Sanwo-olu’s SPEED UP LAGOS initiative and the T.H.E.M.E.S – PLUS Agenda.
“Distinguished guests it is good to note that this Empowerment program has come to stay. We will continue to train, equip, support and monitor progress until success is achieved.
‘We therefore call on beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by putting all the items received into good use , so as to also give back to the society,” Hon. Alogba charged.
Hon. Tunde Durojaiye, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Lagos State on Rural Development who was the special guest at the ceremony said that the chairman’s initiative would go a long way in addressing residents running to their chairman and others to beg for money all the time.
He appealed to the graduands to ensure that the equipment given to them are put into good and productive use.
While calling on them not to disappoint the council chairman and her cabinet, Mr Durojaiye said that the huge amount used in training them for six months can be used for other things but the council chose to use it to invest in them.
He lauded the council boss for the initiative while also urging her to do more in empowering her people.
Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Agoro described the programme as a commendable initiative.
“This is a commendable one by Hon. Motunrayo Alogba for training the young and elderly ones and this will go a long way in ensuring that they stay productive and there will not be any idle hand in Ijede.
“Instead of giving out peanuts, she has been training them and providing them tools to start their businesses.
“My advice to the beneficiaries is to make good use of the opportunity that they have been given. Instead of being given fish, they have been taught how to fish so that they too can be independent and train others.
“They should not sell the equipment that has been given to them, rather, they should use it judiciously for what they are meant for,” he charged.
Other council chairmen, Builder Olusesan Daini, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ikorodu West LCDA, who also spoke, gave kudos to their Ijede LCDA counterpart for adding value to her people.
Hon. Saheed Adefarasin, a two – term chairman in Ijede and two -term representative, Lagos State House of Assembly, speaking said that empowerment by the council is leading people out of poverty.
Satisfied with her performance, Hon. Hassan who is the apex leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijede said categorically that Hon. Alogba will be returning for the second term as the chairman.
“This has been a continuous exercise. She has trained and empowered many over the years in tiling, make – up, fashion designing and others. Instead of saying that we are eradicating poverty, what we do in Ijede is to lead them out of it so that they can be independent and be economically productive.
“She has performed well since her coming. We have been having a peaceful atmosphere in the community since her coming. Her second term is automatic. We are returning her as chairman in ijede LCDA,” he said.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony were Hon. Femi Kabir, Vice Chairman, Ijede LCDA, High Chief Musediq Alliu, Regent, Ijede LCDA, High Chief Babatunde Ogunmuyiwa, the Odofin of Ijede, High Chief Adebayo Aba – Ajanaku, the Otunba of Ijede, High Chief Rasaq, the Aro of Ijede among other party leaders.
