By Dotun Ibiwoye
Succour came to 129 people in  Epe Federal constituency when they graduated from the Wale Raji Poverty Alleviation Scheme (Wale Raji PAS) after three months of intensive training.

The lawmaker  representing Epe Federal constituency, Hon. Wale Raji, in collaboration with Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board engaged the youths to enable them become employers of labour.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Raji stated that the scheme was essentially a youth-focused skill acquisition cum empowerment initiative based on identified need gaps to boost their economic productivity and ultimately engender sustainable wealth creation.

He affirmed that Wale Raji PAS is a fall-out of the long search for solutions to,the problems of out of employment and underem-ployment in Epe Federal Constituency.

“The graduands of the Wale Raji Youth Empowerment Scheme were carefully selected from all the 20 wards in Epe Federal Constituency at the rate of five participants per ward while the balance of 29 were selected from special interest groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Epe branch, Hausa / Igbo / Non- indigenes community, Artisans, National Youth Council Epe Chapter and others,” he said.

In addition, he said: “The Scheme is essentially a youth-focused skill acquisition cum empowerment initiative being implemented with the active collaboration of the Lagos State Technical & Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB). Its implementation is being done in three phases.

“We are equally presenting economic empowerment tools and equipment to 100 beneficiaries under this scheme. Beneficiaries under this initiative were carefully selected based on robust need analysis within the Constituency. We will therefore be presenting to these individuals tricycles and motorcycles for transportation, generators to boost productivity as well as grinding machines and sewing machines for already skilled but ill-equipped business owners.”

He added: “How well you utilise such opportunities goes a long way in determining the success or otherwise of your business ideas and I am confident that if the level of discipline and enthusiasm you all displayed in the course of your training is well sustained, success shall be yours at the end of the day. Let me therefore congratulate your parents and relations on this landmark occasion.”