Lagos senator: Our youth, women empowerment will curb poverty, boost SMEs

Idiat Adebule, lawmaker representing Lagos west senatorial district, says the ongoing youth and women empowerment in her constituency will eradicate poverty and boost smaall businesses in the state.

Speaking on Wednesday during the distribution of empowerment materials to constituents in Lagos, Adebule said the initiative was a fulfillment of the promise made during her engagement with stakeholders on August 27.

The senator, in conjuction with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFRI), had trained 1,000 youths and women on different vocational skills such as fashion, barbing, confectionery, leather works and hairdressing.

The trained constituents were also empowered with different startup packs for the vocational skills.

Adebule said the initiative has demonstrated her commitment to empowering women and youths, aligning with the Lagos state government’s initiatives to promote women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.

She assured that more trainings and empowerment programmes are on the way for constituents in Lagos West.

“Today’s event is therefore, to distribute work tools and equipment as starter packs to these one thousand (1,000) participants. These tools and equipment include sewing machines, gas cylinders, burners and cooking wares, equator hair dryers, leather sewing machines, barbing clippers and generators,” Adebule said.

The senator called on everyone to support the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the empowerment is all part of his initiatives.

“The significance of this training and empowerment programme is the fact that 1,000 youths and women will be leaving the unemployment market to become self-employed, earn decent living, contribute to the economic development of our country and also employ other young people,” Adebule said.

“To my mind, this is one of the practical means of creating gainful employment for the youths and thereby gradually eradicating poverty as well as crime and other social vices from our country in consonance with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. I wish to remind us again that President Tinubu’s administration is doing a lot to build a resilient economy that will provide better and sustainable opportunities for all Nigerians. Reforms can be painful and difficult but with patience, persistence and hard work, the gains will definitely come and in bounties.”

Adebule urged the beneficiaries to recognise the life-changing opportunity provided and make the best of it. She emphasised the importance of business ethics, including integrity and delayed gratification, and encouraged them to be excellent in their endeavors.

“I urge you to see this gesture as a life-changing opportunity which you must embrace and take advantage of to uplift yourself, your family and ultimately your communities,” she said.

“There are verified stories of people who started business with little or nothing but today are giants in the business world. What defines them is their ability to recognise and take advantage of opportunities like this one we are providing you, imbibe the ethics of business including integrity, delayed gratification as well as separating business from family and pleasure. This is your opportunity to actualise your dream, please make the best of it. I urge you to be the excellence you desire to see in our country as that journey starts with me and you.”

She lauded the training partners and consultants for their dedication to the programme”.

Cornelius Ojelabi, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state; Abayomi Finnih, members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), and Cardinal James Odunmbaku appreciated the senator for the initiative and charged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity, make good use of the equipment handed over to them and never consider the thought of selling them as it would defeat the essence of the training and empowerment.

Habeebat Oladipo, one of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the senator and promised to make use of the cooking gas and equipments judiciously.

Israel Adedoyin, another beneficiary, lauded the initiative and expressed hope for more to come.