ITIRE-IKATE, LAGOS – More than 600 residents of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area have graduated from the council’s free skills acquisition programme, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle youth unemployment and strengthen grassroots economic self-reliance.
The beneficiaries received certificates on completion of training in Catering, Tailoring, Make-up, Cosmetology, Hairdressing and ICT. Courses ran for between four weeks and one year, depending on the discipline, and were delivered at no cost to participants.
The initiative, driven by the administration of Hon. Oluwafemi Odunayo Daniel, forms a core component of the council’s youth empowerment and capacity-building agenda. Officials said the programme is designed to equip residents with practical skills that can translate directly into employment and small business ownership.
At the certificate presentation ceremony, Hon. Daniel urged graduates to leverage their new competencies to create sustainable livelihoods.
“Vocational skills are the currency of the modern economy,” he said. “With the right training and discipline, you can build businesses, create jobs, and secure independence for yourselves and your families.”
He also announced that participants would receive follow-up empowerment support to help them start and scale their vocations, describing the move as critical to ensuring the training yields measurable economic impact.
The Council Manager, Mrs. Ajose Esther, also addressed the beneficiaries and advised them to be ambassadors of the council and become employers of labour. She urged them to uphold the values of integrity, hard work, and professionalism in their chosen fields.
Graduates commended the council for the opportunity, describing the scheme as timely and impactful. Many said the training had already changed their outlook on self-employment and pledged to use the skills to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the wider community.
The Itire-Ikate LCDA administration said it would continue to expand skills development and youth-focused interventions as part of its broader development plan for the council area.
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Short version for social media:
600 Graduates Get Certified in Itire-Ikate Free Skills Scheme
Over 600 residents of Itire-Ikate LCDA have graduated from the council’s free skills acquisition programme under Hon. Oluwafemi Odunayo Daniel.
Beneficiaries trained in Catering, Tailoring, Make-up, Cosmetology, Hairdressing, and ICT. The Chairman promised empowerment support to help them start their vocations, while Council Manager Mrs. Ajose Esther urged them to be ambassadors of the council and become employers of labour.
Graduates praised the initiative as timely and pledged to use their skills to grow their lives and the community.
