Excitement as Oyo Deputy Gov. presents starter packs to 181 skill-youth

As a way of making youth self-reliant rather than depending on handouts or roaming the streets, the Oyo state government has distributed starter packs to 181 beneficiaries of state- led skills for job comment of YESSO. 

The training program, which was initiated by the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports is aimed at providing the beneficiaries employment and eradicating poverty in the state.

MOUTHPIECE NGR understands that the decision to embark on the training programme was in answer to the charge by the state governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, that the people should be empowered with the prosperity his administration preaches.

Speaking during the program, the governor who was represented by his Deputy, Barrister Adebayo Abdul-raheem Lawal, encouraged youths to shun acts of criminality and take advantage of the government’s plans and programmes to give their lives a meaning.

“I am delighted to be part of this occasion, because starting from now on, I can count on the part of success for this young men and women.”

“Since I became the deputy governor, I was the chairman of Housing Corporation that I kept receiving applications for jobs from youth and begin to wonder where the jobs are coming from.”

“I have nothing less than 1000 applicants looking for jobs and the jobs are not there. Through out the world, I know that those who are rich are private people and not civil servants except those who are in regulated wage income. This is a step direction to success to get them started on employment and entrepreneurship and I hope you will make good advantage to this opportunities.”

“On social media today, you hardly can get people on wages breaking grounds. But those with entrepreneurship idea like Zuckerberg who developed Facebook and Elon musk who is also one of the richest man in the world. A precursor to this is a developer in IT sector.”

“This is one step that will enable these 181 beneficiaries to be self reliant. This is not a joke and I have seen that these equipments are modern and they can help you build careers.”

“On this note, I congratulate you and those who have this occasion eventful.”

He added that Governor Makinde met yesterday with student leaders from Oyo to discuss opportunities for their development, including the purchase of buses and bursary allowances. 

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Seun Fakorede said that the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde is evidence in several Youth Empowerment Initiatives this government has embarked upon since assumption of office on 29th May, 2019 especially the youth in Agriculture Program. 

According to him, one of the components of the Youth Employment and Support Operation (YESSO) is the skills for job (S4J) which was designed to provide demand driven skills for poor and vulnerable youth for access to employment opportunities. 

Fakorede noted that the 181 beneficiaries of the State-led Skills for job (S4J) who are mined form Single Register of the State Operation Coordinating Unit (SOCU) have undergone Three Months training in sector specific, entrepreneurship and Six months internship with organized private sectors which now make them eligible to get the starter packs to start their own businesses. 

“What we are witnessing today could not have been possible if not for the benevolence of His Excellency who magnanimously approved and released the fund for the procurement of the Starter packs to the 181 beneficiaries.”

Among those in attendance include top government functionaries including Special Assistant to Governor Makinde  on Youth and Sports, Kazeem Bolarinwa, Special Assistant on youth, Victor Olojede; Oyo PDP Youth Leader, Micheal Ogunsina; as well as members of the organization team.