A training trip to the United Kingdom sponsored by Ikenne Local Government for some selected youths in the local government area got a boost during the week, as the candidates visited the Skills Acquisition Centre at Iperu.

In his address during the visit, the facilitator of the centre, Rev. Bola Oyeledun, who conducted the trainees round the facility, assured them of a space at the centre for them to be able to practice their acquired skills upon return from the training in the United Kingdom.

He further gave the assurance that the Skills Acquisition Centre, a federal government facility built through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals, and which Iperu Remo, and Ikenne Local Government, are the proud beneficiary, will facilitate grants for them from the federal government.

While congratulating the youths as the first set of individuals to enjoy such opportunity, he hoped other youths would tap from the various opportunities provided by the centre.

He advised the trainees to be of good conduct while outside the country, as they are ambassadors of the local government.

He described the stained glass training as a lucrative course, and a right skill to be acquired, as there is no known stained glass production outfit in Nigeria and West Africa as a whole.

Oyeledun said many churches like the Anglican, Methodist, and Catholic, will require their services as they can't do without stained glasses.

Leading the participants on the visit was Mr. Ayokunle Ogunderu, CEO, Authentic Interior Decor, the company facilitating the training programme.

In his remarks, Ogunderu confirmed the readiness of the training instructor, and Director of the Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Jafal Ramay, to receiving the participants and giving them a cutting-edge training and making them have a very good value for money invested on them, as according to Ramay, this is is going to be his largest number of trainees he will be handling from Africa.

Ramay however expressed regrets over the shift in the earlier-scheduled date , which he attributed to his tight schedule; though he was very optimistic that this will allow for a more solid preparation towards the arrival of the participants.

The week-long training trip sponsored by the Hon. Olusegun Ogunleye-led administration in Ikenne Local Government, as one of its campaign promises, is unprecedented in the annals of local governments in Ogun State, and is aimed at empowering the youths, and making them become self-reliant and employers of labour.