By Julius Alabi, Akure
A paramount ruler, the Ajana Afa of Okeagbe Akoko in Ondo State, Oba Mofolorunso Samuel Adegboyega Arasanyin has said skills acquisition remains the most viable and sustainable solution to combating rising unemployment and poverty in the country.
Oba Arasanyin made this known on Tuesday at the bush clearing of the abandoned Okeagbe Skills Acquisition Centre to mark his birthday.
He noted that skills acquisition training programme would help to reduce unemployment, poverty, and crime in societies.
The first class monarch noted that it was critical for more Nigerian youths to acquire a skill for employability and entrepreneurship.
“Hence, I am here with the youths (Origbos) in Afa Okeagbe Community to clear the bush of the long abandoned Okeagbe skills Acquisition Centre in order to revamp the Centre and make it work for the benefit of our people.
“I am using this opportunity to call on Government and our people locally and in Diaspora to assist us in putting the place to good use for the continuity of skills acquisition training programmes,” he said
According to the monarch, the center will serve as a training center for numerous skills acquisition: Technology (ICT, AI, IOT etc) fashion design, Mechanics, Tiling, painting, plumbing, haircut among others.
“We are calling on the Ondo State government, the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Senator Jide Ipinsagba, the House of Representative member, Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero. House of Assembly member, Hon Fatai Atere, Akoko North West Local government to come to our aid so as to pull our people out of the labour market and train them to embrace entrepreneurial skills,” he said.
Oba Arasanyin however urged all Youths and interested members of the community and neighbors to register their names at Ajana Palace as from Monday, 9th of September 2024 so that the programmes could commence before the year runs out.
He said that the objective of the centre would be achieved this year to ensure that as many youths in Okeagbe Akoko as possible are equipped with the skills for entrepreneurship and employability in order to avert the attendant effects of poverty and unemployment that have manifested in the form of rising criminality including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and many other antisocial behaviour.
“We are putting our heads together for this laudable programme for the youths in Okeagbe because we could not withstand the pain of seeing them roam the streets,” he added
