About 100 women have benefited from the Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu (GOY) vocational training and skill acquisition scheme, which would last between September and November 2023.

The vocational training, which started September 4, 2023 in Lagos, consists of six departments which include: fashion designing; catering; hair dressing; knitting; soap making, and tie and dye.

In an interview with the organiser, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa constituency 02 in the Lagos Assembly, said the programme started 12 years ago with the aim to empowering women and his constituents in general.

He explained further that the three best students in each vocation would be given start-up tools.

“We empower people via education, job creation and good health. Of course, we know small scale businesses account for 70 percent employment within the society.

“This is the easier way to go by empowering people; give them skills and they will make money for themselves and family. It is our own way of contributing to manpower development and the societies.

“Our success story is that the beneficiaries are already using what they have learnt. Some of them have shops where they sell things”, he added.

Speaking, a Fashion Designing Instructor, Mrs. Lawson Grace, who expressed satisfaction, said the students were doing well despite the fact that they just started.

“Although, the three-month training is not enough, however, the students will have preliminary knowledge of fashion designing”, she said.

The instructor, who appreciated the lawmaker for empowering women, encouraged them to engage themselves in handiwork.

One of the beneficiaries of the fashion department, Mrs. Olaitan Ayileka, who lauded the programme, said life could be very challenging for a woman who was not empowered.

Ayileka, who expressed optimism over the outcome of the vocational training, commended Hon. Yishawu for his passion to empower youths and women in the community.

“Being a proactive leader, he does this often for his constituents; when I heard about this training, I try to explore the opportunity, and I must say that it worthwhile. I have learnt new things in the space of less than two weeks.

“Things I never knew before, I have learnt here and the facilitator is also good because she came down to our level to ensure that we understand everything.

“The free training is open to all tribes and every interested persons within Eti-Osa 02 constituency.

“With this training, I will be financially empowered and I can also impart this knowledge to some women that are not doing anything for a living.

“What we are learning here is the rudiment of tailoring and I will build on it, “ she said.

She described Yishawu as an amazing man that kept to his promises and fulfils them; also, has a passcode of governance, and thinks ahead.

Other beneficiaries newsmen expressed their gratitude to the lawmaker, saying the training would empower them financially and give them the opportunity to be an employer of labour.