Mushin empowers youths, women with vocational, entrepreneurial skills

Mushin empowers youths, women with vocational, entrepreneurial skills

Mushin Local Government in Lagos State empowers hundreds of youths and women in the community with vocational and entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance and economic empowerment.

Speaking at the programme on Tuesday, the Chairman of Mushin Council, Mr Haruna Aruwe, said that the initiative was to establish his administration’s unwavering commitment to reducing unemployment in the community.

Aruwe said that the skill acquisition programme would promote entrepreneurship, foster economic self-reliance, and advance inclusive development.

“The Women and Youth Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme is meant to equip residents with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills for sustainable livelihoods.

“The initiative forms part of my administration’s people-centred agenda aimed at empowering women and young people across Mushin with marketable skills, entrepreneurial knowledge, and the confidence to establish successful businesses.

“Through the initiative, they become self-reliant, and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the local economy,” he said.

The chairman said that the free empowerment programme, with the theme: “Skills for Growth, Tools for Success”, was a two-month intensive training programme taking place at Layi-Oyekanmi Primary School, running daily from 12.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

He said that the programme was under the guidance of experienced professionals as participants were receiving hands-on practical training in a wide range of high-demand vocational fields.

“The skills being offered include fashion designing, shoe and palm slippers making, leather bag making, cosmetic production, and catering.

“It also includes baking and event decoration, make-over and gele tying, tie and dye, phone repair, barbing and entrepreneurship and business management.

“Beyond technical training, beneficiaries are also being equipped with customer relations, financial literacy, business development, and enterprise management skills.

“These will enable them to establish sustainable businesses in the community, where they become employers of labour, and contribute to the socio-economic development of Mushin,” Aruwe said.

He said that the programme underscored the administration’s firm belief that sustainable development began with investing in people.

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The chairman said that by creating opportunities for skills acquisition and self-employment, the initiative was expected to reduce poverty, create jobs, improve household incomes, and strengthen economic resilience across Mushin Local Government.

“As the adage says: ‘If you give a person a fish, you feed them for a day; if you teach them how to fish, you empower them for a lifetime’, this philosophy continues to define the vision of our administration.

“We prioritise programmes that build capacity, unlock human potential, and create lasting opportunities for residents.

“Since we assumed office, we have consistently championing initiatives that improve the quality of life of residents through strategic investments in education.

“We have consistently championed youth development, women empowerment, infrastructure renewal, healthcare delivery, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment.

“Our administration has remained committed to delivering purposeful, inclusive, and people-centred governance,” he said.

Aruwe said that skills remained the most effective tools for combating poverty and unemployment.

According to him, the women and youth empowerment programme reinforces his vision of building prosperous, productive, and self employed residents.

Mr Tosin Shotayo, a beneficiary, expressed appreciation to the chairman for providing a platform through which they could acquire valuable vocational skills capable of transforming their lives.

Shotayo said that the initiative would give them more opportunities to support their families, and securing a brighter future through entrepreneurship and self-employment.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Sadiat Adekunle, assured the council chairman that they would make proper use of the opportunity.