Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, who represents Eti-Osa constituency 02 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has made significant strides in empowering his constituents, specifically women, through human capital development training.

On Thursday, a graduation ceremony was held for 149 women who completed the Human Capital Development Training Programmes, while 31 top-performing graduates received start-up tools.

Yishawu explained that the primary objective of this empowerment initiative is to help his constituents become employers of labour.

He expressed his satisfaction with the achievements of the Women’s Vocational Training Programme, which began in 2022 and has since seen over 100 students graduate in fields such as Catering, Hairdressing, Knitting, Tie & Dye, Fashion Design, and Soap Making.

The lawmaker emphasized that the program aims to cater to the specific needs and interests of the constituents, and as such, start-up tools were provided to the top performers in each vocation.

This year, 86 students are graduating, with 18 of them receiving start-up tools for their exceptional performance.

Yishawu also announced that enrollment for the next cohort of the Women’s Vocational Training Programme, scheduled for March 2024, is now open. He encouraged residents of the constituency to spread the word and take advantage of this opportunity.

In addition, Yishawu revealed plans to collaborate with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) to enhance the program’s curriculum and opportunities for the enrollees. There is even a possibility of extending the program’s duration to maximize its impact.

The Vocational Training Programme, carried out in collaboration with the Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Skills Acquisition Centre, encompasses a wide range of courses, including Computing, Photography, Barbing, Hairdressing, Arts & Beads, Catering, Screen printing, Welding, Aluminium, and Fashion Designing. Since its inception, over 2,000 students have been enrolled and trained, with more than 200 receiving support to start their own businesses.

The graduation ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of students who completed various modules in fields such as Catering, Hairdressing, Welding, Fashion, Aluminium, and Adult Literacy. Among the 38 graduating students, 13 will be awarded start-up tools for their outstanding performance.

In a move to advance the digital skills of young adults aged 18 to 35, Yishawu introduced the Digital Training Programme, which began in November 2023.

The programme aims to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to either gain employment or become self-employed. The Solar-Powered Human Capital Development Hub, equipped with 50 laptops and high-speed internet, offers training in Data Analytics, Graphic Design, Digital Marketing, and Web Development. Furthermore, plans are underway to collaborate with specialized training academies to introduce additional courses such as Project Management, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Linux, JAVA, and Cloud Computing.

The first batch of the Digital Training Programme, consisting of 103 students, successfully completed their courses, with the best-performing participant from each course receiving a laptop to aid them in their future endeavors. Yishawu expressed his gratitude to partners such as Agility Africa, Seed-Builders, and EduPoint for their generosity and collaboration.

During the ceremony, Yishawu commended the graduating students for their resilience and determination in completing their courses despite the challenges they faced. He wished them the best in their future endeavors and urged them to make their community proud. The graduation ceremony served as a testament to the success of the Human Capital Development Training Programmes and Yishawu’s commitment to serving the constituents of Eti-Osa constituency 02.

Mrs. Iliya Rifkatu, the best overall student in catering, expressed her appreciation to the lawmaker, stating that the gas cooker with an oven received as a start-up tool would greatly benefit her business and enable her to employ others. Udokwu Esther, the top-performing student in hairdressing, also commended Yishawu for providing the materials, tools, and instructors for the training.

Rotimi Akodu, the Special Adviser to Governor Olusola Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Environment, spoke highly of the initiative, stating that it focuses on human capital development to alleviate the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the constituency. He encouraged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the training and contribute to the revenue of the constituency and the state as a whole. Akodu emphasized that the empowerment initiative would lead to a ripple effect, benefiting the entire constituency.

He concluded by urging the beneficiaries not to disappoint their constituency and to make the most of the opportunities given to them.