HOPE for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM), a pet project of wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode on Wednesday commenced a 2-day entrepreneurial training programme, with 80 youths listed to benefit in areas such as baking technology, piggery, fish, grass-cutter, mushroom, poultry, snail and vegetable farming.
The programme, which is holding at HOFOWEM’s Oregun office, is part of activities by the outfit to mark the 2017 International Youth Day, for youths in Lagos State, aged from 15 to 34 years.
Speaking on this year’s International Youth Day, Founder of HOFOWEM, Mrs Ambode, observed that concerted effort was needed to empower the teeming youths with relevant skills and put them in a position to generate steady income by themselves.
According to her, programme is brought up to channel the focus of the youths to skill acquisition for sustainable self-employment, saying that it had become necessary to explore viable ways of generating viable employment for the vibrant and job-hungry youths, aside of strict office jobs.
“When you have a skill, it helps you to employ yourself and when you employ yourself, you enjoy the freedom and peace of mind to drive your own business. And if you are committed and hard-working enough, you will grow your business to such levels that you make more money than you can ever earn as salary from any employer. This is why we are laying this platform for our youths in Lagos State,” Mrs. Ambode said.
She urged youths to put to good use all they had learnt and be prepared for a better tomorrow, saying it was achievable and doable.
According to her, “I am very passionate and optimistic about a better tomorrow. It is achievable. It is doable. I urge you to put to good use all you have learnt. Congratulations and see you at the top.”
While describing the programme as a pilot one for the youth, Mrs. Ambode promised that many of such skill acquisition training would be organized in future for their benefit.
Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Ms Oyefunke Adeleke, in her address, noted that HOFOWEM since inception had undertaken many people-friendly programmes, including widows’ empowerment, support for expectant mothers as well as support for sick youths and aged women, giving out kits for pupils in public primary schools and also sponsored surgical procedures.
She said that HOFOWEM had also offered scholarship for brilliant but indigent students in public tertiary institutions, among others.
“In commemoration of this year’s International Youth Day which comes up on 12th August every year, the founder of HOFOWEM, Her Excellency, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Governor of Lagos State, out of her milk of kindness, approved this entrepreneurship training programme to empower youths with various skills that appeal to their passion from which they can be financially independent as entrepreneurs rather than waiting endlessly for a white-collar job.” She said.
She noted that just as the mission of the NGO was to touch and transform the lives of less privileged persons for sustainable living; the youth must use the opportunity to transform their lives permanently for good.
Some youths who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked Mrs Ambode for her kindness and passion for improving the welfare of youths in the state, promising that they would not disappoint her but make the best use of the opportunity presented to them
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