By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS—Wasiu Ayodeji Adesina, the Executive Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government in Lagos, on Wednesday, flagged-off a seven-month free skill acquisition training of 100 female youths on fashion.
The Citizens Compass reports that the youths were selected across all the seven wards in the community.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Adesina explained that the training was necessary to make beneficiaries self reliant.
He added it was also to increase the beneficiaries’ income streams, give them opportunities to survive anywhere and stop them from looking for white collar jobs.
The Chairman expressed determination to equip indigenous people with easily learnable skills, while also enabling each family to fend and be self reliant.
He promised to also provide equipment to those who are passionate and serious with the training.
“We are trying to empower our youths to be self reliant, that is why this type of training is necessary for them to be skilled.
“Once they have their skills, they can survive anywhere and given them chances to know business minded people.
“My administration will settle the most serious beneficiaries with equipment and shops where necessary to start their own business,” he said.
Earlier, Mrs Adetoun Awofeso, Managing Director, Creative Fashion Academy, said Nigeria had important aspect of creative use and labour as the two ingredients needed for successful fashion industry.
Awofeso, who is a global trainer on garment making, said, “if fashion is taken in a professional way with technical partner, Nigeria would be taken out from the hood and stop importation in the next five years.
“We are now at a time we need to reduce expense on importation, move from consumption to production as said by the president, there is no better time than now.
“The beautiful thing is that Nigeria has all the ingredients needed to establish fashion industry,” she said.
Also, Mrs Yetunde Akande, Creative Director, HCN Fashion Hub, said the idea was to empower and reduce unemployment among female youths.
Akande, said that the beneficiaries would be placed on compulsory internship to assess their level of skills not a technical school where they learn how to cut and sew only.
“At the training, we are going to train them to be able to start their own fashion business and employing other people.
“To know they have probably move a way from the local to the technical way of garment construction and pattern crafting.
Also speaking, Kayode Olomo, the Baale of Ojogbe, urged the beneficiaries to be very passionate about the training, citing a business mogul, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, an indigene of Ikorodu who rose to fame through fashion designing.
Ms Sofiat Folayomi, one of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the chairman, adding that the training would make her to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional designer.
Also, Mr Anuoluwa Darasimi, another beneficiary promised to put in his best.
“This is a lifetime opportunity given to us by the council chairman. We have to take it serious,” he said.
Citizens Compass reports that All Progressive Congress(APC) stalwarts, market leaders , council management team and traditional leaders were all present at the ceremony(End)
