Yewa North Empowers Nearly 7,000 Residents with Adire Skills

Oja-Odan, Ogun State – In a significant move to boost local entrepreneurship and economic growth, the Yewa North Local Government Area has provided free Adire/Kampala designs and production training to approximately 6,950 residents. This initiative, spearheaded by the council Chairman, Dr. Olusola Akinbode, aims to equip youth and women with vital skills for self-reliance and job creation.

The comprehensive training program was rolled out in four distinct batches across the local government area. The first batch saw 2,000 participants trained in Ayetoro. This was followed by the second batch at First Baptist Church, Oju-Atan, Igbogila, which benefited 1,000 individuals. The third installment, held at Cherubim and Seraphim Prayer Mountain, Iseyin-Ijoun, empowered 1,500 trainees, while the most recent and fourth batch at Oja-Odan successfully trained 2,450 residents.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3-day Free Dapo Adire/Kampala training programme in Oja-Odan, Dr. Akinbode emphasized the critical importance of empowering the community with practical skills. He stated that such initiatives enable residents to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of both the council area and Ogun State as a whole.

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Dr. Akinbode also commended the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration for its commitment to infrastructural development, particularly highlighting the ongoing rehabilitation of the second phase of the Imasai-Igan-Okoto-Ayetoro road. He noted that these infrastructure projects, alongside the recent recruitment of 550 Amotekun Security Network personnel, create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and enhance the security of lives and property across the state.

The council boss further acknowledged the valuable partnership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ketu and Iju, in facilitating these training programs. He assured residents of Ayetoro that their community would also host a training session in the last quarter of the year.
Leaders of the House, including Hon. Stephen Adeogun (Leader of the House), Hon. Sunday Opeisa (Chairman, House Committee on IGR), and Hon. Segun Ableto (Supervisor for Agriculture and Special Duties), lauded Dr. Akinbode’s initiative as unprecedented in Yewa North’s history. They urged beneficiaries to fully leverage this opportunity to become self-reliant and even employers of labor.

In their separate remarks, Apostle Mathew Adegolu, CAN Chairman, Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and Pastor Peter Olaibi, Director of Programmes and Special Duty, expressed their appreciation for the council’s collaborative efforts in the free vocational training. They stressed the program’s aim to improve living standards and encouraged participants to make the most of their newly acquired skills.

Beneficiaries, including Mrs. Theresa Ogundele and Mrs. Felicia Bankole, expressed their gratitude to the Dr. Akinbode-led administration. They affirmed that the training would enhance their craftsmanship, foster self-dependence, and significantly boost the local economy.