Nigeria: Senator Lauds Apapa LG Boss Ayodeji Joseph Over Skill Acquisition Initiative

The senator representing Lagos Central in the Senate, Moniru Adekunle Muse, Thursday lauded the efforts of the Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Joseph Ayodeji, in developing and creating jobs for the teeming youths in the area through skill acquisition initiatives.
The lawmaker also stressed the need for youths in the country to properly develop their skills, adding that due to increasing non-availability of jobs, youths should concentrate on non-formal education and skill acquisition to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Speaking at the commencement of the Apapa Skills Acquisition Centre in Apapa, Lagos State, built by the local government council, Muse encouraged the trainees at the centre to take advantage of the initiative to fend for themselves, create jobs and contribute their quota to the nation's economy.
According to him. "I commend the chairman for his effort to conceptualise and executing such project trying to take the youths out of the street and for taking Apapa to a greater height. Any where you are in Nigeria, you will know that Apapa is the best local government area.
"I appeal to the trainees to concentrate on what they are going to be taught in this centre because what you take from here is what you will benefit from in life.
He added that Apapa Local Government remains the first amongst others local governments in Lagos.
In his speech, Ayodeji disclosed that the primary aim of the project was to empower the people, get them off the street and make them realise that if a white-collar job is not available they can make a living on their own.
He affirmed that upon graduation, 20 students would be sent to further their education with technical schools in the state.
He said: "The skills acquisition centre is designed to provide the necessary skills for personal development in all areas of human endeavor.
"So far the following are some of the areas covered by the venture: computer studies, hat and bead-making, textile and soap making, catering, fashion design, hairdressing, cosmetology and barbing.
"There shall be no restriction of age. Once a person is out of secondary school and above 18 years of age he could apply for training.' Of the 114 vacancies available, 110 trainees have applied leaving a stringent portion of space."
Ayodeji decried the constant misuse and abuse of such projects by people who see it as 'government property,' adding that adequate measures have been put in place to insulate this concept against abrupt discontinuation. It is a project designed for our people as their own dividend of democracy.
"It is a legacy that has been programmed to outlive our administration. We are going to diligently pursue it for we believe it has inherent potentials to banish poverty and squalor from our midst," he quoted.