Lagos graduates 12,914 from vocational centres
Lagos State Government on Tuesday said that a total of 12,914 students had graduated from its vocational centres since 2019.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Dada, gave the figure at the 2022 International Women’s Day Celebration at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Dada said that in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the state government, the ministry had established 19 skills acquisition centres across the state, where no fewer than 20 vocations were being taught free.
”About 12,914 students have graduated from year 2019 till date, most of whom have become employers of labour through the skills acquired.
”Certificates are being awarded, which have enabled them to proceed for further education in the state. These have gone a long way to reduce unemployment in the state.
”In addition 10,001 Women have been trained and empowered in the four-week skills acquisition programme, from 2019 till date,” she said.
The commissioner said that the graduates were given start-up packs to enable them to begin businesses.
She said that apart from learning the skills, the beneficiaries were afforded opportunities on entrepreneurial developmental trainings on ways to create new businesses and carry out professional risks assessment and profit marginalisation.
According to her, in 2022, the state government will train at least 250 women in each of its centres across the state on the same programme.
She said that the government, through the ministry, had empowered a total number of 4,885 beneficiaries of its Micro-Enterprise Support Scheme.
The commissioner said that the beneficiaries were empowered with tools, including pepper grinder, sewing machines, hair dryers, barbing sets with generators, barbeque makers, pop-corn makers and android phones.
According to her, the Android phones are aimed at enhancing digital marketing of the beneficiaries’ products and services for easy accessibility to their prospective clients.
She said that the programme was taken to communities in the rural areas, including riverine areas, where the interventions were much needed.
”We went into all these communities enumerated and evaluated the beneficiaries before the distribution of equipment, and also went back to monitor their activities to assess the impact of the interventions.
”The ministry has trained 500 women in digital marketing and given Androids to them to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on their micro businesses.
”In commemoration of the International Widows Day, the ministry empowered 3,000 widows from 2019 till date,” she said
The official added that the ministry equally gave grants-in-aid to 200 non-governmental organisations as support for their services toward humanity.
”Also, 850 women have benefitted from cassava/vegetable farm cultivation and empowerment for rural women.
“They were given free farmland to cultivate their crops,” Dada said. (NAN)
