By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The need for government at all levels to focus more on youth empowerment and industrialisation in achieving human capital development and improving the economic well-being of the nation has been emphasised.
Governor of Oyo State, Mr Abiola Ajimobi made this observation at the flag off of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), organized by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) at the Polytechnic Ibadan.
He averred that the Oyo State government continued to engender industrialisation by opening up the state to investments and empowering its youths through the technical and vocational skills acquisition programmes.
Among other objectives, the national industrial skills development programme aims at imparting Nigerians with skills on the development of cottage industries and the promotion of non-oil products for export and improved economy.
Mr Ajimobi, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Princess Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba, especially noted that youths must be empowered to sustain industrial and economic development efforts of government.
The Governor therefore charged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the skills acquisition programme in building a wealthy and prosperous nation.
In his remarks, Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, Mr Joseph Ari, represented by Mrs Olufunke Olorunleke, disclosed that over 2,500 Oyo indigenes had so far benefited from the skills empowerment programme.
The 2017 edition would see the training of 300 participants within the age bracket of 18 and 35 years in welding and fabrication, tailoring and fashion designing, and plumbing and pipe fitting.
“It is a programme that is aimed at impacting skills in this teeming unemployed population, particularly our young men and women under the age of 35 so as to ensure national growth,” Mrs Olorunleke added.
Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Gbade Ojo and the Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Barr Abayomi Oke in their respective goodwill messages, maintained that the partnership between ITF and the Oyo State Government was to promote the imperative nature of public private partnership toward economic and industrial growth of the state.
They affirmed the unwavering support of the state government in partnering with ITF and other purpose-driven organizations so as to boost commerce and other economic activities in the state.
