The administration of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is committed today empowering more youths in Lagos State to reduce unemployment and criminality, foster rapid and sustainable socioeconomic development, boost food production, enhance food security, and make life better for the teeming population of Lagos State in line with the THEMES Plus Agenda.
Speaking at a fish training and empowerment programme organized by the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD), held in Igbodu Epe recently, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Dr Nurudeen Yekinni Lanre-Agbaje charged the participants to take advantage of the various developmental programmes of Mr Governor to develop their skills, improve their business turnover and contribute to the socioeconomic transformation of the state.
He said further that Mr Governor is willing to go the extra mile to ensure the youths are properly positioned to face the current socioeconomic challenges, assuring the participants that more training and empowerment in diverse skills are in the pipeline for them if they translate the opportunities they have received to concrete achievements.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa expressed the determination of the government to deepen the human capacity building by expanding the programme to the various rural communities in Lagos State to stem rural urban drift, create employment and increase food production in the state.
Similarly, the Director, CERUD, Mr Musibau Muyiwa Balogun, admonished the participants not to view the training as another routine; but to view it as an opportunity to learn new ways of doing things differently for a better outcome, promising that the Centre, with the approval of Mr Governor, will come up with several other programmes which will change the narratives of the socioeconomic life of the youths in Lagos State.
While thanking the Governor for his regular support for farmers in the state, the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, Dr Femi Oke, expressed the desire of the association to collaborate more with the government to ensure increased food production for the benefits of Lagos residents. He also requested for the extension of government’s assistance to other sectors such as crop production.
Responding, some of the beneficiaries expressed the determination to make good use of the training and empowerment materials, while thanking the government for the magnanimous gesture.
A total of 100 participants were supplied with fish tanks, fish feeds and smoking kilns after the training exercise.
