Ogun State Government has  trained over 1000 artisans, technicians, and  some individuals, to boost their capacity and entrepreneurial skill in the formal and non-formal sectors, to help them commercialise their trades and make it lucrative.

Flagging-off the two-day training programme at the Government Science and Technical College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun revealed that his administration understands the importance of entrepreneurial development and capacity building for employment creation, thereby curbing insecurity.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, Abiodun noted that there was a scarcity of artisans and technicians in the various occupations and trades, especially in the construction industry, as many had abandoned their trades for commercial motorcycle riding popularly known as ‘Okada’.

“This programme is very important for the creation of employment for the youths, men and women in Ogun State. We want them to be independent, get employed and self-employed, while discouraging them from doing things that were not economically viable.  In the coming days, we shall be linking them with other opportunities beyond this training”, the Governor said.

The programme, according to him, was in collaboration with the Innovation Design Entrepreneurship Advancement Strategies (IDEAS) LTD, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and was being carried out across the four divisions of the state in Government Science and Technical College Ijebu–Ode, Methodist Comprehensive College, Sagamu and Government Science and Technical College, Ayetoro.

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer, IDEAS LTD., Mr. Olusegun Dada corroborated the Governor’s view that ‘’the initiative is to further empower those in the informal sector which makes up over 70 percent of the enterprise sector, develop the economy as well as raise employment in the State.

‘’Nigeria has about 43 million informal and micro businesses with the potential of taking a larger number of the unemployed off the streets, hence I want to commend the State government for giving attention to the sector’’, Dada said.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the trio of Comrades Fashina Akorede, Abdulahi Nurudeen and Taiwo Gbademosi appreciated the government for linking them up with new skills in their various trades, calling for more support in sourcing raw materials, resolving epileptic power supply and ensure access to credit facility.