No fewer than 115 trainees across seven departments have graduated from the Badagry Local Government/UNDP Skills Acquisition Training Programme.
Badagry Updates can report that the fresh graduands were presented with their certificates at the 19th Graduation & Matriculation Ceremony of the programme held at the Council Secretariat, Ajara on Tuesday, October 10.
Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Chairman of Badagry LG, Hon. Olusegun Adeniran Onilude, expressed delight that the skills acquisition programme had empowered many youths who have in turn empowered and employed other youths, thereby boosting the economy of Badagry local government and beyond.
On the 5th graduation ceremony held under his administration, he said, nearly one thousand individuals have benefitted from the programme to become self-reliant.
According to him, self-reliance has become very crucial, especially in the present gloomy economy globally. “As you all know, our youths are the ones who will someday, take over from us. How will they take over if they are not empowered or self-reliant?” he queried.
He disclosed that many of the graduating trainees would be provided with necessary equipment to maximise the skill acquired in the course of their training, while others would be matriculated into the system for training.
Onilude assured that his administration would continue to “provide the necessary platform and structure for capacity building needed for Badagry of our dreams”.
Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Hon. Risikat Padonu-Hassan said that the programme has been a great opportunity to gather youths, women and others and impart the skills needed for self-reliance in computer training, hair dressing, barbing, catering, bag making, tye & dye/craft, make-up, and fashion designing.
She expressed gratitude to the Council Chairman for his unalloyed support for the programme and other capacity building projects, noting that the council is eagerly looking forward to the 20th anniversary of the programme in 2024.
Meanwhile, Padonu-Hassan reeled out the names of the best graduating trainee in each of the seven departments of the programme, and each of them got equipment along the line of their trade, including, new laptop for the best graduating trainee in computer, hairdryer for hairdressing, ring light for make-up, generator and clipper for barbing, among others.
Dignitaries at the event include Vice-Chairman of Badagry LG, Hon. Pedetin Elizabeth Kappo; SLG, Hon. Moses Opa; Council Manager, Sir Philip Sejiro Asokere; Supervisors for ICT, Works, Agriculture, Tourism, S.A on Chieftancy, Budget, Revenue and other local government functionaries; and APC Apex Leader, Chief M.Z. Ogunbiyi.
