Ogun Lawmaker Sponsors Youths On Vocational Training To Reduce Unemployment

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Deputy Minority Leader at the Ogun State House of Assembly,Hon.Lamidi Musefiu has empowered some of the youths  in his Ado-Odo/Ota II State Constituency, with vocational skills, as part of strategies to create jobs and reduce rate of unemployment in Nigeria. 

Musefiu, who is also the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts and Anti Corruption, described the learning of vocational skills and training rather than waiting for almost non- existent white collar job as a major panacea towards addressing youth unemployment in the society.

The lawmaker, speaking during the graduation of the first set of graduands he sponsored on a year vocational training programmes at the Peter Akinola Foundation (PAAF) in Abeokuta, stressed the need for youths to equip themselves with vocational skills, saying there is a ready-made market for them to render their services in such technical skills and live sustainable lifestyle. 

The lawmaker explained that his decision to sponsor the first set of two graduands for the programme with a tuition fee and other expenses to the tune of about N300, 000 each per trainee, was borne out of his vision to reduce poverty and create means of livelihood amongst his constituents, especially the youths.

He noted that for the nation to stem the menace of crimes and criminality caused by idleness, there was need for meaningful engagement of youth, thereby creating attitudinal change and adding positive value to the society at large. 

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The Deputy Minority Leader,Photo Caption

Hon. Musefiu Lamidi, member representing Ado-Odo/Ota II State Constituency (middle), flanked by the graduands Alade Ibrahim (right) and Tiamiyu Olamide (left) during their graduation ceremony recently at the Peter Akinola Foundation (PAAF), Abeokuta Ogun State.

Musefiu promised  that the vocational training sponsorship and other intervention initiatives would get to all the  eight wards in his constituency within the next three years to promote youth development,.

He disclosed that another 14 artisans had also been certified through a 2-week intensive training organised in partnership with GIZ to avail them with modern trends and methods in their respective vocations with requisite certificate. 

The former Chairman of the Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government listed the projects he executed despite non- release of constituency fund to the house, to include  boreholes, construction of culvert and channeling of waterways to address water erosion.

He  assured his constituents that scholarships would be given to 20 indigent students to study in higher institution in the coming academic season.

He also promised that another set of twenty constituents across the eight wards would benefit from the intensive training next year.

Responding, two of the graduands, Tiamuyu Soliu and Alade Ibrahim

who were the beneficiaries of the one year programme, said they had vocational training in Metal Fabrication and Electrical/electronics, appreciating the lawmaker for sponsoring them for the training alongside provision of logistics all through the programme.

They added that practical and theoretical trainings had changed their orientation about life from seeking for white collar jobs to creating jobs that would make them self-sufficient and employers of labour. 

They noted that such initiatives, if imbibed by other political leaders and well meanings individuals, would reduce the high rate of unemployment in the nation, thereby improving the socio-economic status of the people especially, the youth.