Date: 2016-11-04

The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), in collaboration with the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, on Thursday launched skill acquisition programme for 250 youths from Ilorin.

The youths are to be trained in paint production, soap making, tie and dye, beads making, air freshener, tailoring, POP ceiling, hair dressing among others.

The duration of the training is three months at the end of which certificates will be issued to the trainees.

In his speech, the IEDPU President, Alhaji Ahmed Hadi, said the programme was first of its kind since the inception of the union over 50 years ago.

Hadi said the aim of the programme was to help address the growing unemployment rate and youth restiveness in the country, especially with the present recession.

He said that the period when jobs waited for graduates was over hence the need to train people to become self-reliance rather than job seekers.

The IEDPU president explained that government alone could not drive the economy, adding that only a private driven economy could drive the country out of recession.

He said the institution was chosen because of the state of the art equipment in the polytechnic, adding that it was going to be an annual exercise.

In his address, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Alhaji Mas'ud Elelu, said the partnership with IEDPU was an indication of the union's confidence in the training offered by the institution.

He explained that towards the end of 2010, the polytechnic was able access TETFUND to put up a befitting Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), for 2009/2010 projects intervention.

"Let me state boldly that Nigeria has all it takes to actualise its dreams.

"But if we want the economy to grow, the people must grow by making human capital development a realisable goal.

"In order to solve the problem of unemployment and shortage of skilled manpower plaguing our country, skill acquisition must be given relevant attention," Elelu said.

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, the Team Leader, Kazeem Ahmed, said the trainees would not disappointing the union and the polytechnic.