Date: 2020-07-10

The wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq has presented tools to empower women and youths of Offa, in Offa Local Government Area of the State, North Central, Nigeria.

The first lady who is the Founder/ CEO, Ajike People's Support Center said that the event was part of the efforts of her office at cushioning the challenges faced by citizens amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs AbdulRasaq said that it was important for people to acquire technical, vocational and educational training and the development of other skills relevant to both local and global economies.

According to her, the aim of the empowerment is to recognize the strategic importance of equipping people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

She explained that it is in view of this that the first lady of Kwara, Her Excellency, Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq and the Ajike People's Support Center have taken skills acquisition of youths and women as one of their core concerns.

"The First Lady and the Ajike People’s support centre have trained thousands of women in various skills together with the help of some support groups, she said. "In the last month alone, about 40 youth were trained in tailoring and today, we are in Offa to give out sewing machines, grinding machines and hair dryers to some entrepreneurs identified by the Olofa of Offa, in other to empower them", she said.

Mrs Abdulrazaq in the spirit of the 2020 World Youths Skills Day implored youths to use the period to acquire new skills in entrepreneurship which would put them in the right space for jobs or business ventures.

She urged youths to become exemplary leaders so that they can assist government in addressing global challenges amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Oloyede Gbadamosi, appreciated the kind gesture by the first lady while praying that the AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq led administration will succeed.

Gbadamosi advised the beneficiaries to make profitable use of the equipment in order to boost economic activities of the state and prayed that the beneficiaries would succeed in their businesses.

A beneficiary, Idiat Abdulrazaq in her response thanked the first lady for the gesture, and prayed that she would succeed in her endeavor.

Another beneficiary, Moshood Mustapha, prayed that God will continue to uphold the first lady while promising that the equipment would be used for the benefit and growth of the society.

At the event, no fewer than 30 persons were beneficiaries of the sewing machines, grinding machines and hairdressing dryers.

The programme which took place at the Olofa of Offa's palace was graced by the Olofa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi himself and members of his council.