The Commissioner of the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe has declared the Enterpreneurship Training Programme Open For
the 350 People Living with Disabilities in Alimosho Local Government Area, to have various vocational knowledge on Phone Repairs, Hair Dressing, Makeover, Arts and Crafts, Leather Works, Shoe and Bags and Barbing, so as to raising platforms for all to enhance productivity and making it easy for all participants to set their businesses.
This was declared open on Tuesday, during the Flag-off Ceremony of the Enterpreneurship Training Programme For People with Disabilities (PWDs), held at the Alimosho Local Government Secretariat.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe said the training programme is the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu ‘s Commitment and demonstration to ensure inclusion of all category of Lagosians into the T. H. E. M.E.S Plus Agenda.
He expressed that it is his belief that all the participants in the programme will ultimately be in a position to contribute their quota to the Socio-Economic development of Lagos State, just as the Ministry is standing on the pillar of making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.
In his address, he stated that the challenges that millions of people across the world actually encountered, especially those people who are physically or mentally challenged, cannot be over emphasised. For they are daily confronted with significant obstacles as they go about their lives.
Also, those who are employed face challenges of discrimination, marginalization and mobility problems, even the unemployment rate for the Adults with disabilities, is about 9 percent, which is more than double the National average.
Through this realization of the challenges, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has recently donated 50 Wheelchairs, 170 Walking Sticks, 75 White canes and 69 Crutches to 365 persons living with disabilities PWDs to aid their mobility. He said.
He informed that the Ministry will be so glad if it has a joint collaboration with the private sector to initiate and kick start programmes that will have a meaningful impact in the lives of the PWDs, the Physical and mental challenges and all Lagosians in general, because the government cannot bear the financial burden alone.
He assured hope to roll out more programmes that will ensure that Lagosians enjoy the dividends of democracy in the next couple of months.
The General Manager of Lagos State Office of Disabilities Affairs, Lasoda,Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde Lawal, represented by Mrs. Foluso Adeolu commended the Governor’s effort to approve this lordable project to train his people to know how to fish.
While she urged every beneficiary to take advantage of the knowledge gathered in the training seriously, and see themselves at the higher level of prosperity.
The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Dr. Biodun Onayele said in his welcome Address speech, that the 350 PWDs/ beneficiaries should make good use of the opportunity provided in the training, and to focus and learn, in order for them to start their own businesses, and become employers of labour, to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria.
The Executive Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Hon. Jelili Sulaimon advised every beneficiary, to concentrate on their studies during the training programme, and must devote their time on it, for their self upbringing to help their society.
While he cautioned them not to sell any equipment given to them by the government, so as to help the State government to continue helping them, because that is fundamental.
For the Council has experienced a lot in the past, where equipment has been given to the beneficiaries, and ended up selling it at the end of the programme
