Hon. (TPL) Rasheed Makinde has harped on the fact that the All Progressives Congress government is out to trim down the poverty rate in Nigeria,urging all unemployed people to latch on the various empowerment opportunities available to make them self reliant as white collar jobs are no longer feasible.
According to Makinde who represents the Ifako Ijaiye II constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly,the government is daily devising means to address the economic issues confronting the land.
“Self employment can easily transform people formerly without a gainful employment to employers of labour, thereby building the base within the labour force and easing the pressure on the labour market.
“The scope of trainings captured in this empowerment scheme are listed as follows; Make up, tie and dye (adire), catering, liquid soup and perfume production, bead making etc.
“This opportunity is opened to all and sundry, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.
“The purpose is to lift the people out of poverty through capacity building and empowerment that can give them basic knowledge to be self reliant and establish themselves, as equipments will be made available to them in order to make immediate delivery of well packaged products seamless.
“The government is caring and devising every means possible to lift people out of poverty. It is the responsibility of the elected officers to lead people into prosperity, this should be seen as one of those attempts.
” This is not limited to any clime, educated applicants who are not skilled in vocational training must take full benefit. White collar jobs are not in abundance, in fact, not everyone should have white collar jobs, there are more sleeve-up jobs with very good remunerations.
” Apart from this, your wards cannot inherit salaries from Alausa or Local government, but they can inherit a business.
He urged the beneficiaries to take up the opportunity and make good use of it.
Alhaja Noimot Adejumo, Coordinator Makinde Formidable Esteem group, initiators of the programme.
While giving her keynote speech notes that the gesture is a sign that genuine politicians who still care about the self reliance of the people are still available,citing Makinde as an enduring sample.
“We are going to intensively train more that 250 constituents for three weeks in the art of make up, bead making,soap making,catering,tie and dye and more. It is all geared towards poverty eradication.
The APC chairman of Ojokoro Local Government, Prince Adewale Bello while declaring the commencement of the three weeks empowerment urge the beneficiaries to keep to time so as to benefit maximally.
“Makinde is trying and we shall soon give him award along with other performing political office holders in Ojokoro.” He said
Dr Waleel Ipaye the leader of the Mandate Movement in Ojokoro,notes that Makinde has been passionate about politics.
“He is selfless and service driven, a man whose earnings at the state Assembly is known to us,we even wonder how he is sustaining this.
“It pays to learn a Handwork,it is better.
Justice Forum member, Mr.James Adeyeye Oshatuyi note that,Makinde has raised the bar beyond what he met in all ramifications.
We have been having Assembly lawmakers Makinde is number one and he is doing it selflessly.
The programme also featured a youngster who got enlisted in the Nigeria Airforce, Master Adewale Badamosi courtesy Hon Rasheed Makinde,he was ushered into the hands of God for care and protection via prayers said by both the Christian and Muslim leaders present.