Kunle Adelabu
-Presents tools of trade to overall 16 best graduands, 15 others
A total of 201 residents of Ijede, who have been trained and empowered at a skill acquisition programme sponsored by the Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) under the Chairmanship of Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, were, on Thursday, January 6,2022, presented with tools of trade.
The beneficiaries were trained in various vocational skills at the Ijede Vocational Training Centre, Ijede for three months and were presented with certificates at the graduaton ceremony held at the Ijede LCDA Secretariat premises.
The event was well attended by royal fathers and traditional chiefs, politicians and residents alike.
Master Alex Ikechukwu David of the catering Class emerged the overall best student and was presented with tools of trade.
Also presented with tools of their respective trades were two best students each in Catering (40 students), Fashion (61 students), Hairdressing (45 students), Make – Over (32 students), Barbing (8 students), Bead Production (12 students) and Tiling (3 students).
They were presented with Catering equipment packs, Hair dryers, Sewing machines, Tiling equipment, Make –over equipment kits, Barbing equipment and others.
Meanwhile, Hon. Motunrayo Alogba, speaking at the ceremony, said that the graduation of participants of the skill acquisition programme is a manifestation of the commitment of her administration in ensuring that residents of Ijede are positively engaged.
“I am very delighted and grateful to God for the opportunity to fulfill this great desire in the tenure of my administration”, she said.
“Today’s event is a manifestation of the commitment of this administration to ensure job creation and poverty alleviation in this local government by empowering particularly our youths so that they can be gainfully employed.
“I strongly believe that once the issue of job creation has been taken care of, a major societal problem would have been dealt with as people who ordinarily would have been idle would be gainfully occupied”.
She said that she is empowering the best students to encourage subsequent trainees to be serious with their skill education.
Hon. Alogba also charged parents to get their children engaged with vocational skills while they are seeking admission into higher institutions.
“We will be empowering our best graduates from the two batches in the vocational sections. This is to encourage trainees to always put up their best performance as such attitude will be rewarded”, she said.
“Let me use this opportunity to encourage our parents and guardians to always enroll their children and wards into the vocational centre while they are waiting for admission into tertiary institutions. This will ensure that they are gainfully engaged during the period because like the saying goes, ” an idle hand is the devil’s workshop”, she said.
A two – term Member, Lagos State House of Assembly and two – term Council Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Saheed Adefarasin Hassan, charged beneficiaries to use the opportunity given to them to impact on themselves and their family positively.
He said that skill acquisition would help create jobs and address youth restfulness.
“I want to congratulate all the graduands and l implore you to make good use of the opportunities given to you by the Council Chairman”, he said.
“This skill acquisition programme would also address youth restiveness because it will engage them in doing something meaningful for themselves.
“You should not sell machines that will be given to you by the chairman as done by some people in the past.
“Feel free to approach the chairman for further assistance in case you need help to startup your vocational skill and I also want to appeal to the chairman to always offer the graduands assistance since she is a woman and a woman is more accessible”, Hon. Hassan appealed.
“I congratulate you all for finishing your training well and graduating today”, he added.
The Head of the Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Ijede LCDA, speaking earlier, also charged beneficiaries to make good use of their training and use it in doing good things for themselves, families and the community at large.
Presenting the graduands to the Council Chairman and guests, Mr Yusuf Ismail, Principal, Ijede Vocational Training Centre, said that Mr Alex Ikechuku David has the highest marks among all the best two graduands in each department.
He added that students were graded based on attendance, dressing, attitudes, class performance among others.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony were HRM Oba (Dr) Akeem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin (represented by High Chief Abdulateef Saminu and other chiefs), High Chief Alliu Musediq, the Regent/Olisa of Ijede, Alhaji Jamiu adisa Quadri (Golden Jay), Baba Oba of Egbinland and APC Chieftain, Alhaji Busaru Habeeb Kehinde, Head of Administration, Ijede LCDA and Hon. Kehinde Fadeyi, Council Leader, Ijede LCDA.
