200 trainees graduate from Soun's job committee/BOI partnership prog

200 trainees graduate from Soun’s job committee/BOI partnership prog

Niyi AJALA

Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bolaji Adigun (rtd), chairman of the Job Creation and Empowerment Committee, an integral part of the 25 year-development plan of Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, has declared that the train of progress and development of Ogbomosoland has taken off.

AVM Adigun made this declaration Thursday during the graduation ceremony cum products exhibition by the 200 trainees of the Bank of Industry (BOI)/Soun’s Job Creation and Empowerment Committee’s collaboration on vacation and skill acquisition.

The event held at the palace ground in Ogbomoso was attended by many traditional rulers and dignitaries. It came after the trainees selected from the five local governments in Ogbomoso zone had completed three months training in various vocations and skills including adire and aso oke textile production, baking (pastries, smoothies, cakes), ICT training (data analysis, software engineering, web design etc), household and industrial cleaning production (air freshener, soap making, bleach, disinfectant), fashion designing and catering/event planning.

While applauding the vision of the Soun, Adigun who is the Akogun of Ogbomosoland asserted, “To our Imperial Majesty, I make bold to say that your vision for Ogbomoso land has started manifesting. The train is now on the move and by the grace of God Almighty, we shall reach our desired destination.”

He noted also that the desire of the monarch to uplift and empower youths and women is laudable revealing the aspiration motivated the Oba to approach BOI for assistance and training of the target group “who are in dire needs of jobs and empowerment.”

He disclosed the training would be spread over three years informing other batches of beneficiaries would be taken in.

Adigun who is also the president of Ogbomoso Descendants Development Association, ODDA, stated further that the training modules were designed to “impart technical skills and instill entrepreneurial acumen, and ensuring participants can thrive in both domestic and commercial markets.”

Over 2, 000 applicants he said registered for the programme out of which 200 were selected, re-affirming the plan to take other streams.

He expressed gratitude to the management of the BOI for their support, financially and technically, and to Hon Mulikat Akande-Adeola, whom he said availed the committee of the use of the Jokodolu Foundation Skill Acquisition Centre at Aroje area for the training, assuring the second batch would soon commence their training just as he promised assistance of start-up capital in term of loan for the best trainees.

In his speech the Soun unveiled his two-fold goal for the Ogbomoso youths. “I desire our youths seek two things; to acquire education and learn a skill. I believe at least one of the two will work out in a country where unemployment rate is alarming.”

The paramount ruler stated the fund released by the BOI would cover three years adding however that the money would be judiciously disbursed to extend the programme beyond and that if the money was properly managed BOI would be encouraged to extend the funding.

He therefore advised the graduands to be “models, and be good ambassadors of the programme.”

In a goodwill message, titled, “From passion to profit: Turning ideas into sustainable economic freedom,” Rev’d. Niyi Adebayo, Lead Pastor of True Worshippers Church Ogbomoso, gave the graduands tips on how to turn the knowledge acquired into prosperity.

He outlined ten pointers: finding out the need of the society and tailoring their production activities towards same, be innovative and blend with time, be diligent at work, seek for feedback and maintain good standard budget.

According to Rev’d Adebayo smart disbursement of funds for business, building strategic relationship, projecting good character, investing in personal development and giving room for God factor, will give one the edge and propel towards prosperity.

The event saw the dignitaries touring and appreciating the exhibition stands mounted by the various units, demonstrations of products by selected graduands and distribution of certificates.

Babatope

In a chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, Adigun Babatope, one of the graduands, thanked the Soun, the job creation committee and the BOI for their “commitment to empowering the youth,” submitting he formerly had no skill and was “hustling” to survive “but l am now instilled with skill to make a living.”

Babatope who was trained in household and industrial cleaning production and disclosed he applied after seeing the notification link, affirmed they received three months intensive training. “We were well trained, we attended the lessons two days a week, Monday and Tuesday and the facilitators handled the training professionally.”

Olayemi

Adio Olayemi, the governor of the household and industrial cleaning production unit, corroborated the assertion of training adequacy informing they were given monthly allowances of ten thousand naira each for transport and that they were about 20 in his unit.