The Executive Chairman of Ifeloju Local Council Development Area, Ilupeju Ekiti, Comrade Babatunde Ogunmilugba has enjoined Nigeria youths to engage in vocational trades for self reliance and to curb unemployment in Nigeria.
Comrade Ogunmilugba gave the advice during the 2023 graduation of the Vocational Training Centre, Ilupeju Ekiti, in Oye local government , Ekiti State.
The LCDA boss who blamed high rate of unemployment on over reliance of Nigeria youths on white collar jobs which he said are non-existent , considering hundreds of thousands of graduates the country churns out yearly.
Comrade Ogunmilugba while advising the seventeen graduating trainees, underscored the importance of learning vocational trades and practising it as one of the surest ways to ameliorate unemployment in Nigeria. He added that” when you add vocational trades with academic qualifications, your future is secure; our society will be free from social vices and Nigeria would be a better place to live”
Highlighting some vocational trades, the chairman noted that fashion designing, hair dressing, bricklaying, painting, welding, farming, plumbing among others are lucrative trades .
Reiterating his readiness to encourage vocational trades, Comrade Ogunmilugba promised the best graduate, electric sewing machine and also volunteered to train youths that are interested in modern farming. Saying he would empower them with cassava stems and other farm seedlings.
Seventeen trainers graduated from the centre, five from Federal University Oye Ekiti and Ekiti State University (EKSU).Thirteen from Ilupeju Ekiti
In his remarks, Elder Banji Ogungbemi, the president of Ilupeju Development Associaion (IDA) who was a special guest of Honour appreciated Ekiti State Government for establishing the vocational centre in Ilupeju Ekiti. He promised to refurbish the centre for conducive training.
IDA president gave #250,000 to the graduates to rent shops for immediate operation of their trades, while pledging the support of Ilupeju Development Association for provision of sewing machines and driers for fashion designers and hair dressers. He however, admonished the graduates to be alive to their trades as”there is dignity in labour”
Also, the president of Ilupeju youths Development Associaion, Engineer Femi Fagbemi urged the graduates to be diligent and maintain trust of their customers for constant patronage.
Some government functionaries, Community leaders and resource persons educated the graduates on customers’ relations and how to grow the trades they learnt.
Few of the graduands appreciated God, the LCDA leadership and facilitators who were instrumental to their success. They promised to contribute to the Development of the town through the trades.
Pastor Olu Olosunde on behalf of the LCDA, appreciated Mrs Folake Onipede who he said has been instrumental to empowering Ilupeju youths.
Dignitaries at the event were:
Representatives of Apeju of Ilupeju Ekiti, High Chief Amos Ogunbiyi, The Oloja Odo- Egosi, Elese of Ilese Street, Pastor Olu Olosunde,The Chief of Staff to Ifeloju LCDA Chairman, Special adviser to the Governor on Education, Mrs Aderiye represented by Mrs B Y. Jegede from Scholarship Board , the Executive Secretary, Agency for Adult and Non Formal Education Mrs Modupe Falade, and her Directors, Mrs Folake Onipede the Coordinator of the Centre, the two instructors. (Fashion designing & Hair Dressing) and Ms Modupe Kolawole among others.