The Wife of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Founder, Ajike People’s Support Center, Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq has empowered women and youths with beaded jewellery skill training in Kwara state.
Mrs Abdulrazaq during the graduation and work tool presentation to the beneficiaries of the basic beaded jewellery making training at the state government house in Ilorin on Friday March 25, 2022 affirmed skills acquisition as a strong tool for promoting economic empowerment and poverty eradication
According to her, this is key to attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG1).
“One of the major challenges confronting Nigerian youths and women is unemployment and this particular group constitutes a greater fraction of Nigeria’s economically active population as available statistics reveal that the youth has a population of over 80 million which is about 60 percent of the country’s total population.
“Skill acquisition is a veritable tool for eradicating extreme poverty and hunger with the aim of paving way for employment and creating a platform for jobs and wealth creation for self-sufficiency and reliance which will positively contribute to the growth of the state’s economy and that of the country at large.”
The Governor’s wife commended her husband’s administration for evolving strategies to surmount the challenges faced by women, youths and the aged through well thought out social investment schemes such as the Kwarapreneur, Kwara farm, Owo arugbo, Digital Kwara and other programmes of the Kwara state social investment programme (KWASSIP)
She further enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the skills and tools they have acquired to improve their status and nurture them to be self-reliant.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Mrs Mopelola Abdulmalik applauded Ambassador AbdulRazaq for making adequate welfare of Kwara women her utmost priority, especially through various skills acquisition and empowerment programmes.
She also commended Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration for his gender-inclusive policy and further admonished women to support the system to progress.
The State Commissioner for Communication, Mr George Bode Towoju in his address, thanked the First Lady for prioritizing the well being of the people of the state through numerous empowerment programmes she has embarked on and still doing.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Architect Muhammed Seifudeen Aliyu praised Ambassador Olufolake for bringing a class of International repute to the state and further advised the beneficiaries to ensure that they put to practice the knowledge they have acquired.
The Executive Director of Ajike People’s Support Center, Abdulganiyu Opeloyeru lauded Ambassador Abdulrazaq for her support programmes that have raised consciousness in women, youths and vulnerable with a view of tackling issues that can be of impediments to their progress, safety, development and wellbeing.
The trainer, Mrs Bimbola Balogun and CEO of Bimbeads appreciated the Governor’s wife for empowering the beneficiaries to be self-reliant and be able to give back to society by being employers of labour and also impacting others with the skills they’ve acquired.
She further enjoined the graduands to make productive use of the skills and tools they’ve acquired.
It would be recalled that women and youth have so far been trained through the Ajike People’s Support Center initiative and empowerment tools ranging from sewing machines, hair dryers, make up and makeover kits, grinding machines and modern baking utensils has been presented to over four thousand of these beneficiaries.
Similar trainings have been conducted in tailoring, baking, confectioneries and farming.
PIAK
