Unemployed women, youths urged to patronize skill acquisition centres. -Mojisola Fafure
Unemployed women and youths across the State have been advised to take
advantage of various women skills acquisition centres across the state
by making themselves available for the programme.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Chief
(Mrs.) Mojisola Fafure gave the advice while touring some of
government intervention centres under the purview of her Ministry.
Chief Fafure, who expressed her displeasure at the underutilization of
the facilities at the centre, noted that the functions and activities
of the Institution were not probably given adequate publicity which
must have largely contributed to the low patronage of the centre.
She remarked that full patronage and utilization of the facilities at
the Centre would, in no small measure reduce the unemployment rate in
the state.
The Commissioner charged the Principal and Instructors to be creative
and come up with innovative ideas that would further make the centre
more functional.
She stressed that the acquisition centre is capable of handling
trainings in Catering and Hotel Management, Hairdressing, Sewing and
Knitting, Computer and Secretariat Studies, Textile Technology (Tie &
Dye) as well as Electrical/Electronics.
Earlier, the Principal of the Institution, Mr. Olaoye Oladele has
appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the State
government to assist in creating necessary awareness on the importance
of skills acquisition for women and youths in the state.
Mr. Oladele, who said proper utilization of the centre would assist in
eradicating poverty in the state appealed to donors and corporate
organizations to come to the assistance of the centre.
He listed challenges confronting the Institution to include shortage
of personnel, lack of fund, need for general rehabilitation of the
centre including the renovation of the school hall that could also be
a source of revenue for the State.
In a related development, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and
Social Development, Chief (Mrs.) Mojisola Fafure has commended the
efforts of the state government on the development of the facilities
at the Erelu Adebayo children’s Home, Iyin Ekiti.
Mrs. Fafure, who appreciated the neat environment of the home, lauded
the efforts of the staff at ensuring that the children are well taken
care of and feel at home at all times.
Earlier in her remarks, the Director, Child Development, Mrs. Omotayo
Olatilu explained that the children are from various sources including
abandoned children, products of family court cases, mentally derailed
mother, men whose wives died during delivery that have no one to take
care of the baby left behind.
Olatilu, who mentioned the challenges in the home to include irregular
power supply which makes it impossible for them to use electrical
gadgets, requested for installation of solar power in the Home.
She listed other challenges to include inadequate toys and learning
materials and leaking roof.
The Director therefore called for more donors to support the state
government in its efforts to make life more bearable for the children
at the home.
The team also visited Erelu Adebayo Nursery and Primary School sited
in the Home’s vicinity.