Ogun State Ministry of  Women affairs in partnership with Peace Initiative Network on Thursday empowered 21 women  and youths with equipment after undergoing various vocational skills.

The beneficiaries were provided with various skill acquisition tools with the sole aim of breaking the cycle of poverty among the people.

The materials provided were, grinding machines, sewing machines, dryers, equipment for the caterers and make up artistes.

Speaking at the event, the project coordinator , Michael Femi Sodipo noted that the initiative is to reduce unemployment among the women and the youths.

He said that empowering women and youths will bring about peace in the community.

Mr Sodipo said” Today we are here to empower women and   youths after undergoing vocational training skills by the Ministry of Women Affairs in Ogun State. When women and youths are empowered  there will be more peace in our communities.

“We have done the same in Kano, we have done it in plateau and we are doing it here in Ogun State. We have been in Ogun State for the past two years. We have done it at Alake Palace , we have done it at Olota Palace and we have also done it also at the Palace of Seriki hausa. We have plans to go into some areas in the State as to extend the kind gesture.

“What will do mainly is to support young people to keep them away from the street and them to be meaningful engaged, when they are meaningful engaged they can contribute to peace in the community”

The project coordinator maintained that the foundation will also extend the initiative to other areas of the state.

“We have plans to extend the gesture, we are here in Southwest, we have just started from Ogun State, hopefully from Abeokuta Zone to Yewa, Ijebu and other areas. We are also extending to other States in the Southwest  like Ondo, Oyo, Lagos and others”

He therefore advised the beneficiaries to see the empowerment as a ladder to greater achievements in life.

Meanwhile, the director of Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs  Wonuola Kazeem implored the beneficiaries not to want to take the empowerment for granted. 

She said  “You must be ready to lift others in your own little way so that our society can be free from poverty. The problem of unemployment is one that must be tackled by all stakeholders,” she added.

The director appreciated the foundation for the kind gesture, saying that the government can not do it alone.

She added that the beneficiaries will be self-employed and be employers of labour.

The beneficiaries appreciated the foundation for their kind gesture, saying that they will not take the opportunity for granted.