Obaseki engages female mechanics for maintenance of govt vehicles

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has offered to engage female mechanics for the maintenance of government vehicles.

Besides, Governor Obaseki said as part of his administration’s strategic plans for competitive advantage, female drivers and mechanics would be encouraged to study at the Benin Technical College after a complete retooling and rehabilitation.

The Governor who made this disclosure during the graduation ceremony of 25 female mechanics in Benin City, Monday, said, “I want to throw an offer to you today – in Government House, we have a workshop. We would like you to come and take a look at it and also see if you can take over maintenance of the vehicles in Government House”.

The Governor said government will partner with the Lady Mechanic Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, to promote youth employment in line with his electioneering campaign promises. While lauding the initiative, Governor Obaseki said, “It’s in line with my agenda for job creation and youth empowerment”.

According to Governor Obaseki, “the challenge we face today; the challenge of unemployment, the challenge of rebuilding our communities and society is not the challenge that rests on one arm of government or one set of institution alone. It is a challenge that all of us must combine together to deal with – whether you are government, whether you are civil society, whether you are private sector.

“That is the reason why as Governor of Edo State, once I realised that this initiative had taken root, I said the least that we could do is to come here and help to participate in the graduation ceremony of the last 25 of the 100 students this programme started with. I hope that as sponsor, Coca Cola will not terminate this programme with this set. I am going to make a passionate appeal, and if you need me to come to your headquarters, I will come so that this programme can be extended.”

Earlier, the Founder and Coordinator of the Female Mechanic Initiative, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor, said she has been able to train and empower over 1000 female mechanics in Nigeria since inception in five states – Lagos, Benin, Kaduna, Kano and Abuja.

She said, “Your Excellency, we are here to work with you. That burning passion that has been there for a long time, I can see that these girls will do more than we have done today. Coca-Cola has just prepared the ground.”