Oyo guber candidate empowers youth

The Oyo State governorship candidate of National Interest Party (NIP) for the 2019 election, Mrs. Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu’s (BASA) Foundation, BASA has commenced a training programme for youths across the state.

Explaining what necessitated the programme, Sarumi-Aliyu stated that “while unemployment in Nigeria is estimated at 22 per cent, youth unemployment is significantly higher, at 38 per cent, according to the World Bank. In addition to the detrimental effects of our current economy, unemployment and poverty are the primary causes of many vices including prostitution, child abuse, addiction and substance abuse by teenagers and young adults in Nigeria”.

She noted that one method of achieving an optimised quality of life is through knowledge transfer in various vocational skill training programmes, hence the reason for the  BASA Foundation Empowerment Training Initiative.

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“Skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development. Despite the current high level of unemployment, harnessing Nigeria’s young demography through appropriate skill development efforts would provide an opportunity to achieve inclusion and productivity within the country. Rather than giving people fish every time they are hungry, we can do something better by teaching them to be fishermen,” she disclosed.

Mrs. Sarumi-Aliyu also made it known that the materials for the training came from well meaning Nigerians who donated in support of the initiative.

It was pointed out in the statement that the initial modular programmes are designed for Oyo State residents between the ages of 18 and 50 years. She added that participants will need to meet the minimum requirements for the respective programmes.

The organisers revealed  that selection is based on an expression of genuine interest, participant’s willingness to push himself or herself beyond comfort zone, and ability to show aptitude to develop oneself.

The training of 10,000 people will be done in zones starting with the Ibadan Zone comprising of all Local Governments in Ibadan from the 22nd to 26th of October 2018.

Modules will include wig making, auto gele, turban making, barbing, Floral art, black soap production, perfumes and body spray production as well as catering and small chops.