Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Kwara State has trained 25 youths in tailoring, garment and fashion designing. The beneficiaries were drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country.

The training which lasted three weeks was declared closed yesterday by the director-general of MINILS, Comrade Issa Aremu.

The event was witnessed by a traditional ruler, the Onikotun of Ikotun, Oba Abdulrasaq Abioye, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

In his remarks, Aremu said the training was part of the institute’s efforts to contribute to the eight- point agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which includes creating jobs for the youth through skills acquisition.

“If our youths are well employed, it is good for all of us. This is exactly what we have done today to show that the only way for our youths to have jobs is first to bring back the industries, secondly, to make sure they have skills to be self-employed on their own,” Aremu said.

The director-general said that the institute did not only train the participants but also provided them with financial support and tools, including sewing machines.

In his remarks, the Onikotun of Ikotun, Oba Abdulrasaq Abioye, urged Nigerians to apply the spirit of solidarity for the nation to grow.

He commended MINILS for embarking on the skill acquisition programme, which he noted, would further engage the youths in meaningful ventures and discourage them from criminal activities.

The head of the Vocational Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Centre of the institute, Mr Rasaq Adeyemi, expressed satisfaction with the attention and technical knowledge the trainees demonstrated throughout the three weeks the training lasted.