In a remarkable ceremony held at Ijede LCDA council secretariat on the 7th of December 2023, 356 youths graduated from the council’s vocational center after receiving training in various skills.

The vocational center, established in 2015, has been a beacon of empowerment for the youth, fulfilling its mission to instill confidence in graduates about their guaranteed means of livelihood.

Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-alogba, the executive chairman, expressed pride in the graduates and emphasized the importance of vocational skills for personal and familial benefits.

She congratulated the graduands, commending their patience and perseverance.

The vocational center, offering courses in Fashion Designing, Hairdressing, Gele Tying, Cosmetology, Bead Making, Barbing, Catering, Tiling, Paving, and more, also incorporated an Entrepreneurship Department.

This department aimed to equip the youths with the skills needed to manage their businesses effectively.

Furthermore, Hon. Motunrayo extended appreciation to instructors and supervisors, urging them to continue their commendable work.

She encouraged parents to enroll their children in the vocational center, highlighting the value it adds while awaiting tertiary education admission.

Mrs Akintola Adebimpe Adepeju, the Council Manager told Ikorodu News Network (INN) that empowering the youths is a medium to develop the council, explaining that the program is done to reduce the level of unemployment.

“Our plan is to follow them up to ensure that every equipments given to them is utilised effectively, because we’re sure that if they stay focus, they’ll become bread winners in their families” Mrs Adebimpe added.

Chief Adewale Ajala, expressed gratitude to the council for providing a platform for youths to become self-productive.

Hon. Hassan Adefarasin emphasized the significance of the program in light of the challenging economic conditions, considering it a blessing for jobless youths.

Hon. Ajetunmobi Radaq, former executive secretary Ijede LCDA praised the council for meeting youths’ needs, acknowledging the high cost of the empowerment equipment.

The program’s highlight featured the distribution of items such as sewing machines, makeup kits, sterilizing kits for barbing salons, generators, hair dryers, Tile Cutter, Kenwood Hand Mixer, production chemicals, wigs, and attachments etc.

In addition to the equipment, the youths were given the opportunity to exhibit their locally made products ready for the market prospects present at the event.

Hon. Abisola Abari, Head of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) disclosed to Ikorodu News Network (INN) that youths whom were empowered are the selected ones that went through the training program meticulously.

“We checked on the days they attended trainings, their time consciousness, tendency to learn, their level of discipline and other criteria to qualify them for this empowerment”.

“You can see that most of them were surprised, and some shed tears of joy when they heard their names been called to come and collect their empowerment items because they never what we’ve resolved” Abisola asserted

Dignitaries present included the Vice-chairman of Ijede LCDA, Hon. Femi Kareem, council staff, the Chief Imam of Ijede, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Ijede Chapter).

The council boss concluded the ceremony by urging residents to patronize the trained youths as they embark on their entrepreneurial journey, fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship within the community.