By Seyifunmi Odunuga
No fewer than 5,000 young Nigerians across the 33 local government areas in Oyo State have benefitted from the empowerment programme initiated by a support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professionals Council in Oyo State.
The beneficiaries who are mostly women and the youth participated in a four-day empowerment and tuition-free scholarship programme that run from Tuesday 25th October to Friday 28th October 2022 wherein they have undergone training in areas such as soap making, fish farming, digital marketing, crop farming, poultry and a host of others viable ventures while those who desire to go to higher institutions were given admission letters to run a tuition-free programme at University or Polytechnic to achieve their academic ambitions.
The initiative which is a brainchild of the professional council a foremost support group of the APC was held in partnership with the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Apata, Ibadan.
Speaking at the ceremony, the National Director-General of the Professionals Council, Dr Seyi Bamgbade said the initiative was designed with the cardinal objectives of keying into the federal government plans to move millions of Nigerians out of poverty and raise their standards of living which have continually demonstrated in several ways through various windows such as N-Power, trader-monie, farm money and other interventions mapped out by the APC led government for the people.
Dr Bamgbade hinted that this intervention will no doubt reduce the social vices and crimes to the barest minimum if more people are empowered and given access to education through tuition-free scholarships to contribute to the development of the country.
He expressed his appreciation to the management of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology for making it possible for the group to achieve its assignment of training and empowering the unemployed Nigerians, especially the youth.
In his remark, the Oyo State Coordinator of the professional council, Dr Bamidele Gold expressed happiness for the smooth running and hitch-free exercise which he said has impacted the beneficiaries that participated during the training sessions.
Dr Gold thanked the national body of the professional council for the empowerment opportunity it gave to unemployed youth in Oyo State which has allowed the participants to gain new skills and secure admissions to higher institutions of learning.
In their goodwill messages, the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial district, Barrister Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, Candidate for Ido/Ibarapa federal constituency, Engr Remi Oseni, member Federal House of Representatives from Ibadan North constituency, Prince Olaide Akinremi Jagaban who was represented by Hon. Ojo Jimoh, Hon. Kunle Kareem from Akinyele local government and Hon. Mrs Tairat Adeyemi lauded the initiative of the APC Professionals Council geared towards reducing the number of unemployed youths and eradicating poverty in society.
They urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the interest-free loan which shall be given to them as a start-up grant for what they have learnt.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of admission letters to all the students that were offered scholarships while certificates of participation were also given to others that took part in the skills acquisition programme.
Some of the beneficiaries of the scholarship award were Jimoh Sodeeq Ayinde, Tajudeen Faidat Agbeke, Aderogba Segun Stephen, Oye Samuel Oluwabunmi and Adetuluse Praise Temilade.
