By  Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
AN ongoing short-term skill acquisition programmes organised by the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA empowerment programme, has become the toast of not only the youths but septuagenarians and widows who are yearning to engage in innovative ventures such as manufacturing  new and existing products in the country.

The programme which held simultaneously in four centres – Gbagada Industrial Estate, Victoria Island, Maryland centres and FESTAC Town, Amuwo Odofin,  was the second phase of the Lagos State five-week short-term skill acquisition programme.

Vocational skills

At these centres, no fewer than 5, 000 persons in various vocations, would be trained during the programme. Over 2000 graduates were trained in various vocational skills when the programme was first held.

Some participants at the event

The programme is expected to complement the effort of the 18 functional vocational/skill acquisition centres across the state which provide long-term skill learning to the youths.

Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that the inability of the long-term centres to accommodate all the prospective candidates who usually throng the 18 centres to seek for admission, led the State government to design the short-term programme.

The participants are trained in aluminium fabrication, computer design, welding, wheel balancing and alignment, hair dressing and cosmetology, shoe fabrication and wood furniture, catering and hotel management, screen printing and heat transfer, tile laying, refrigeration and air conditional repair.

Others include: hair braiding and weaving, tie and dye, event management, balloon and flower decorations, cake and snacks production, soap and cream production, craft and hat making, bead stringing and insecticide and stove thread productions.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who oversees the WAPA Ministry, said the four-week “programme is part of the state government’s poverty reduction strategy and part of  its renewed effort to give youths and women in the state vocational training that would make them economically independent as well as reduce poverty in the country.

Adefulire said the government will establish more skill acquisition centres in each of the 20 local government and 37 Local Council Development Area, LCDAs, in the state.

The Deputy Governor disclosed that as part of efforts to ensure that skill acquisitions centres are established in each of the local councils, the state government has completed the Isheri rehabilitation/vocational training centre for wood furniture and shoe making and Ayobo skill centre respectively.

At the Amuwo-Odofin centre, one of the beneficiaries, Princess Ann Udemeh, a septuagenarian, who was trained in catering, was elated that during the four weeks she stayed in the centre, her story has changed for good. Said Udemeh: “Since I became an adult, all I do is to give caterers money to make cake for me whenever I want to celebrate my birthday.

After my last birthday, that was my 77th birthday, I thought of it that when I will be celebrating my next birthday, I will be joining the league of octogenarians. And the only way for me to celebrate it is to have a cake designed and baked by me.

But the challenge I had was how to acquire this skill with ease. This thought enveloped me until few weeks ago when I heard about this programme and I quickly grabbed the opportunity and here I am today, the story has changed.”

Another beneficiary of the programme, Mrs. Elizabeth Ikpeme, a 65-year-old widow and a full-time housewife, said before the death of her husband, she was not engaged in any business. “I have always wanted to learn something that has to do with using my hand,” she said.

Ikpeme, who is one of the few widows at the centre added; “when I heard about this, I decided to enrol for the programme because I saw it as a life time opportunity.

Another beneficiary, Nike Apata, commended the state government for the laudable programme saying, it would afford her the opportunity of meeting her family needs.

Apata promised to set up her own outfit after the completion of the four-week training. “My family life will never be the same again; we thank the government for this poverty alleviation initiative.  I implore them to keep it up in order to assist the less privileged in the society. I implore well meaning Nigerians to assist the government by establishing such empowerment programmes rather than spending money extravagantly on  parties and other wasteful ventures.