COUNCILLOR EMPOWERS YOUTHS WITH SKILLS ACQUISITION TRAINING SCHEME, GRADUATES OVER 300 PARTICIPANTS IN IGBOGBO/BAYEKU LCDA. My target is to make youths self-reliant and employers of labour, Councillor Mathew Arowolo reveals.

The Councillor, representing Ward C4 of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Mr Mathew Arowolo, was on friday graduated over 300 participants of his skill acquisition training, tagged One Youth, One Skill, (OYOS). Besides the training scheme, he also gave meritorious awards to some students the following day. Various students from different departments such as tailoring, barbing, fabric making, computer literacy, paint making and so on gathered together inside Kith and Kin Private School Hall, Ibeshe, to celebrate their successful training.

Speaking at the ceremony, Arowolo said the exercise became important due to economic realities of the day and the need to explore other skills for diversifying the economy and reduce unemployment in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.

He disclosed that his target was to make the youths self-reliant and employers of labour rather than job seekers, noting that the most successful men and women all over the world had their roots in small-scale business even as he urged them to take advantage of the exercise and equip themselves financially. “I therefore urged you to take the advantage of the programme and the empowerment programmes to equip yourselves against economic realities in the country” he said.

"OYOS, means One Youth, One Skill, it likewise means  "On Your Own Skill" because I don’t want to hear about any youth demeaning themselves just because of a little amount of money. A number of students have gone through the training before. The reason why I’m doing all these is because by 2021 when I’m leaving office, I want to work through the Ikorodu also to find out that I’ve toughed lifes. I started with Ibeshe because, it is where I originated from and I’ll add whatever to its value to make sure the community flourishe. You all are my story, so, go into the world and deliver what you’ve added into your life,” Arowolo added.

Mr. Gbenga Ogunlewe who was ably represented by his wife, Mrs. A.O Ogunlewe also said to MegaXpression that, "This program is initiated to encourage the youths to be skillful and being skillful, you’ll become nation builders, even the bible tells us that anything we find ourselves doing, we should do it well and I’ll employ you to do what is right at all times."

Speaking to one of the participants, Helen Onohuwakpor, said he's so elated to be part of this gathering. "Hon. Arowolo has done the best he could, may God continue to strengthen him. I also urge all the youths to seize this golden opportunity to be useful to themselves, their parents and our great country Nigeria." he added.

The students performed variety of entertaining shows, while Hon. Arowolo presents awards to the OYOS 2019 outstanding students.

Ojetunde Feyikemi from Ankara bag who was one of the graduates said she was really happy with the skill she was able to acquire and she also wants to impact into the life of others.

Makinde Nurudeen from computer literacy said he sees the program as an advantage due to the fact that he had been pondering on what he could do with himself after school and he came across one youth one skill which built him very well and he also wants to help others 

ADEWALE OYINLOLA PELUMI

Reporting for MegaXpression Community Magazine.