POLITICS
Lagos Graduates 76-Year-Old Brick Maker, 1,999 others in Up-Skilling Programme
The Lagos state government on Tuesday graduated a 76-year-old brick maker and 1,999 others from its up-skilling programme for tradesmen and artisans in the informal sector.
For Pa Fawole Alade, the 76-year-old concrete and block craftsman, from Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), age was no barrier to learning.
The 2,000 artisans from all traditional divisions of Lagos had their skills modernised and upgraded in an eight-week intensive training organised by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Ikeja, Lagos state Gov.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the trainees were empowered with tools and technical equipment, to further facilitate their transition to modern practice in their respective vocations.The event also commemorated the annual Tradesmen and Artisans’ Day.
The trainees were nominated for the capacity building programme by the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA), the umbrella body for all trade associations in the state.
Sanwo-Olu said that the government embarked on the up-skilling and trade enhancement programme for the artisans, given the contributions of the informal sector to the state’s economic growth.
He said that the training was to equip the participants with contemporary skills and tools, in order to make them attuned to the changing dynamics in their chosen vocations.
According to him, the present administration placed premium on participatory governance, just as it strongly believed that government and the private sector must work together to transform the state’s economy.
”It is not in doubt that technology and innovation are the bedrock of economic development.
”The transition from the agricultural age to the industrial age, and to the digital age, has been underlined by waves of innovation that emerge to disrupt an established order and replace it with new ways of doing things.
”As a forward-looking government, we cannot afford to ignore the rapid pace of change in the 21st century. Lagos artisans cannot afford to be left behind.
”It is our abiding commitment to ensure that our Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) grow and flourish.
”This is why we are equipping our artisans with contemporary skills and incorporating technological innovation into their practice, to stay in tune with emerging trends from around the world,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said that there was the need for optimisation of values provided for skilled workers, while also training the under-skilled segments of the workforce.
He said that his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for artisans and tradesmen to thrive, and also to invest continuously in programmes that would impact their lives and improve earnings from their crafts.
”For the 2,000 re-trained tradesmen and artisans who are graduating today, let me remind you that the strategic position of Lagos offers you limitless opportunities to achieve your dreams, as the state contributes a quarter of the national GDP, and is by extension the fifth largest economy in Africa.
”Your training has, therefore, been designed to provide you with the right mix of skills needed to service the rapidly growing industrial needs of our state,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu donated three hectares in Badagry to LASCOTA to build its secretariat and industrial skilsl hub.
The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs Yetunde Ariobeke, said that the up-skilling programme was part of the empowerment opportunities initiated by the Sanwo-Olu administration for residents in the informal sector, in which 4,500 had benefited.
Arobieke said that the training was packaged with technical support from BOSCH Nigeria, which taught the participants how to use various technological tools.
She said that the training and provision of equipment were meant to address the challenge of obsoleteness of equipment at the disposal of artisans in the state.
”The informal sector is the engine that drives the economy. It, therefore, becomes imperative for Lagos artisans to work towards the realisation of a common purpose, which is creating 21st century artisans for sustainable economic growth.
”In line with our mandate, we have continued to foster the creation of an enabling environment for our artisans through access to market, capital and capacity building, by partnering with the private sector by way of impact investment,” Arobieke said.
The President of LASCOTA, Mr Nurudeen Buhari, said that the capacity building would provide competitive advantage for the participants in their vocations.
Buhari commended the governor for the opportunity of the programme, while reminding him of the association’s request for a secretariat and an industrial skills centre for the artisans.
The best graduating artisan from the Ikorodu centre, Mr Ariwoola Olagoke, an estate management technician, conveyed the participants’ appreciation to the state government for the empowerment that also afforded them the opportunity to upgrade their skills. (NAN)
From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo
The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday charged newly inaugurated members of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere to deploy their experience and political networks for effective grassroots mobilization, wider public engagement, and strong support for Aare Asejere.
Governor Adeleke gave this charge while speaking at the official Inauguration of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere, at Adebimpe event hall, adjacent Osogbo City Stadium, along Ikirun Road,Osogbo.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said, the campaign council committees should intensify grassroots mobilization from now till Election Day.
Governor Adeleke admonished entire people of Osun Central Senatorial district to see themselves as one and remain under the umbrella of the Accord while they should continue to demonstrate their unalloyed love and support for Aare Asejere for him to emerge as the next Senator for the area in January 2027.
“I am appealing to you all my dear people to extend the same love you gave me in the just concluded Governorship election in Osun State to Alhaji Asejere in the forthcoming election as he must be in the Red Chamber by January 2027 by the power of the Almighty God” Governor Adeleke stressed.=
Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun and a current Commissioner in Osun, Hon Bunmi Jenyo, while inaugurating the committee, charged them to be up and doing and work towards the victory of Aare Asejere in the coming election.
“The committee should make sure our Accord candidate for Osun Central Senatorial district wins the Senatorial election to the Senate as Aare Asejere’s Senatorial ambition is a round peg in a round hole towards the development and betterment of the people”.
The Chairman of the Campaign Committee and Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as well as the Director-General of the Asejere Campaign Committee and the incumbent Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, while speaking congratulated Aare Asejere in advance saying, nothing will stop his emergence as Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial district in the coming election by God’s Grace and people’s support.
Also the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande enjoyed the newly inaugurated committee for the emergence of Aare Asejere to see the assignment as a task which they should not take with levity.
“Our man, Aare Asejere has been tested, he has never been found wanting, he’s a man of his word and he is a complete grassroots politician who loves to develop people, let us join hands together and support his ambition”, Pastor Akande said.
Responding, Aare Asejere who was highly elated for seeing large numbers of people from far and near promised not to let the people of Osun Central Senatorial district down, adding that he will ensure he involves the whole people in his performance while his representation will be meaningful.
Aare Asejere once again called on the people of Osun Central to vote him in as the Senator representing the district assured that he will not fail them.
He appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke in absentia, his deputy, the SSG, Bobagunwa Igbalaiye, Oluomo Alimi, Yeye Dupe-Sanni, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon Egbedun, Hon Abesin, Hon
Funso Ishola, party leaders, members of the Accord, community leaders, Iyaloja-General and her team, Oluomo Rasaki, Hon Adigun Olaide, among others.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously called for urgent and coordinated actions to protect Nigerian girls from child marriage and other harmful practices.
The call followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Rep.
Kafilat Ogbara, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, marked every October 11th.Ogbara, while moving the motion, decried the prevalence of child marriage and other harmful practices against the girl child.
She called on government at all levels to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.
The Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, in adopting the motion, also urged governments at all levels to ensure that every girl child has access to education, and quality healthcare.
The theme for the 2026 commemoration siught to reaffirm commitment to ending child marriage and upholding the fundamental rights of every girl child.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to an inclusive electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Tella, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan at a training programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tella noted that persons with one form of disability or another constitute an important segment of the society.
He said such individuals are citizens with equal rights, responsibilities, aspirations and contributions to make towards the development of the country.
He said: “The commission recognises that electoral inclusion goes beyond permitting PWDs to register and vote.
“It also involves ensuring that they have access to reliable electoral information, understand electoral procedures, can access polling units and are able to participate in other aspects of the electoral process.”
Tella said the commission would provide relevant assistive devices such as magnifying glasses, Braille guides and posters for voters with hearing impairments at polling units to give Persons with Disabilities a more pleasant voting experience on election days.
He added that INEC guidelines and regulations provide that priority should be accorded to PWDs at polling units without them having to wait in long queues during voting.
He further said that eligible PWDs would be engaged and trained as ad-hoc staff during the elections.
The REC explained that the objective of the commission was to ensure that eligible PWDs in the state were not discouraged, excluded or prevented by avoidable barriers from exercising their franchise during the elections.
He further asserted that “democracy is stronger when every eligible citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in shaping its future.”
He urged PWDs across the state to cooperate with the commission to remove avoidable barriers, promote electoral awareness and encourage peaceful participation.
The state Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Oluwaranti Abiodun, commended INEC for giving special consideration to PWDs ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Abiodun urged the electoral body to give priority to the plights of Persons with Disabilities when planning its activities towards the conduct of the elections.
He demanded that more consideration should be given to eligible PWDs who are interested in working as ad-hoc staff.
He also called on members of the association to support INEC and be ready to perform their civic responsibilities during the 2027 elections. (NAN)
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