By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo State government on Tuesday said all arrangements have been concluded for the training and empowerment of selected 500 youths in the state.
The government through the Ministry of Youths and Sports said 15 would be beneficiaries will be selected from the 33 local government areas of the state for the four days training.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Miss Wasilat Adegoke made the disclosure during a press conference which held at the Media Briefing Room of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan.
She said, the training tagged Omituntun 2.0 Enterprise Empowerment Programme is in line with the directive of Governor Seyi Makinde to her office, not to focus only on sports but other areas that will empower and improve the capacity and capability of the youths in the state.
She added that the youths have also not spared her office on the need for programmes that would better the youths beyond sports.
The Commissioner, flanked by other top management staff of the ministry and the Consultant who would implement the project, said the trainee, after the programme would be given starter pack to kickstart their businesses.
She noted that the areas of four days training include: the art of writing business proposals, tips for successful interviews to build their employability skills, leadership and mentoring, financial/ business management and sustenance among others.
She said “I stand before you this morning with all sense of fulfilment and heart full of appreciation to Almighty God and to Governor Seyi Makinde, for his approval to implement this laudable and life impacting programme.
“Youths in the state have been clamouring for this and accusing my office and this administration of concentrating on sporting activities alone neglecting the youth development aspect.
“I thank God today we are implementing a mega Youth Empowerment Programme where 15 youths would be picked from all the 33 local government areas to be trained on; the arts of writing business proposals, tips for successful interview to boost their employability, entrepreneurship and skill acquisition, financial/ business management and sustenance, leadership skills and mentorship among others.
“Thereafter, trainees would be given starter packs for business start up depending on their areas of interest.”
In his remarks, the programme implementing partner, Dr Jasper Ezenwaka said the effort will go a long way in helping the youths address their challenges and open their eyes to the potentials in providing solutions to areas of need in their immediate environment.
He said beneficiaries will be linked with business mentors for six months after the training so as to be able to monitor their progress and offer more support where needed and or required.
He said “It is a four day training. What is been done in Oyo state is carefully designed to meet the needs of the youths who are graduates. We are starting with attitudinal re-orienration for the youths. We will focus on how they will identify areas of interest and how they can create solution, thereby creating jobs for themselves and others.”
In her remarks, the Director, Youth Development of the state Ministry, Mrs Kudirat Mustapha said the selection of the beneficiaries would be done online and in transparent manner to ensure only qualified youths within the ages of 22 -35years are selected.
Noting that the government is doing its part to better the lot of the youths, she urged the youths to complete the online application forms with correct and truthful information.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Olubukola Oladipo said the government has put in method of monitoring and evaluation so as to be able to identify and measure the challenges and gains upon the conclusion of the phase.
