Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun trains over 6,000 across the State
The Nigerian labour market is congested with many job applications. Hence, calls for a diversion from formal employment to self employment continue to be on the rise among stakeholders and policy makers in the country.
To tackle unemployment and relatively tackle crime, the Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) recently empowered Ogun youths with multi-skills and entrepreneurial skills for job and wealth creation across the State.
The agency, in partnership with Capacity Development and Skills Enhancement Initiative (CDSEI), recently trained over 6,000 participants in different in-demand skills with a view to reducing total reliance on government and avail means to alternative sources of income for people of Ogun State.
The empowerment initiative which began in Sagamu featured five (5) editions along five different locations across the 3 Senatorial Districts of the state: Sagamu, Abeokuta, Sango-Ota, Ilaro and Ijebu-Ode. Beneficiaries were equipped with skills like Cinematography, Web Design and Digital Marketing, Fashion Design, Hair Making, Make-up and Auto Gele, Catering, Event Management and Decorations, Tie and Dye and Bead Making, Shoe Making among others. Emphasis was also placed on monetization of skills through a special Entrepreneurship Class for all participants.
The Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe noted the commitment of the agency to the empowerment of the people of the State. “His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun is passionate about the MSMEs space. That is why OSAMCA is grooming potential entrepreneurs and teaching them skills that will give them access to capital that they can use to acquire equipment, premises and market their products, so they can start building businesses for the future,” the Commissioner said.
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With most students home due to the long ASUU strike, the empowerment initiative featured a large turnout full of enthusiastic undergraduates.
Beneficiaries of the skills acquisition initiative commended the efforts of the Dapo Abiodun led administration through OSAMCA and the Capacity Development and Skills Enhancement Initiative (CDSEI), DailyTimesNGR gathered.
The testimonials were endless as a significant number of participants were able to make money while still learning.
The CDSEI team led by its Principal, Mr Olatunji Odewunmi also commended the opportunities provided to the people of the state to learn different skills for free.
Mr Odewunmi reemphasized the experience and capacity of his team to deliver which was accentuated with different testimonies of successful monetization of skills taught.
The initiative also had an indirect effect on economic activities of the State. Each edition brought increased patronage to the host town, with traders and transport workers as main beneficiaries.
The Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) continues to receive nods for the success of the state-wide empowerment initiative, which marked an unprecedented scale of communal impact in the Gateway state. The initiative testifies to the commitment of the Dapo Abiodun led administration to the human capital development of the state.
