Ayodele Olalere
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday counseled female graduates of the 2023/2024 vocational training centres to spend the money they are going to be given to improve their businesses instead of giving them to their boyfriends for frivolities.
The occasion was the graduation ceremony of the 5,512 individuals from the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Centre held in Ikeja.
The governor told the female among the graduates that they have laboured to learn various skills during the one year training and therefore should not spend their fund or savings on their boyfriends in the name of love.
“Don’t live above your means . Dont use your funds or savings to buy aso-ebi. Don’t give birth to children you can’t take care of. Don’t give your money to men, shine your eyes. You can support your partners but don’t give them all your savings,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“Try and stand up well. Set a goal for yourself and keep your visions alive. Learn to be professional and train yourself. Be a good ambassador. You have laboured for one year now to be focused,” he added.
Governor Sanwo-Olu promised that his administration is ‘committed to creating an environment for every citizen to thrive.’
“Government will be there for you. Use the opportunity to create jobs for others . Never give up on yourself.”
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada said over the past five years, 23,604 people have graduated from the 19 Lagos State vocational centres across the five divisions of the states.
She said the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative, MESI, is a programme designed to uplift vulnerable men, women and indigent youth, adding that in the last one year, two editions have been held and 75% of students from the skills acquisition centres were part of the beneficiaries.
The Commissioner further urged the graduates to leverage on the skills they have acquired in various skills such as fashion designing and dress making, catering and hotel management, hairdressing and cosmetology, computer studies, aluminum fabrication among others to transform their lives and those of others around them.
“Remember that your skills are not merely certificates; they are passports to opportunities that can change your communities and contribute to a more prosperous society.”
