The member representing the Ojo Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, Seyi Sowunmi, on Saturday urged youths to acquire skills to become self-reliant and reduce poverty. He made the call during the flag-off of the Ojo Constituency Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme, which is part of ongoing efforts to empower young people with practical skills.
The initiative is a continuation of the Ojo Girls in STEM 2.0 held in 2025 and focuses mainly on building the capacity of the girl child. The programme is designed to equip participants with hands-on skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term self-reliance. It provides monthly stipends for six months during the training and also offers certificates, starter packs, and access to grants and business loans after graduation.
The training centre, located in the Era Ojo area, targets girls in public schools and offers courses in catering, tailoring, hairdressing, body massage, phone repairs, and computer/ICT skills. Many students, party loyalists, and community leaders attended the launch.
Speaking at the event, Mr Sowunmi described skill acquisition as an important tool for well-being. He urged youths to embrace the opportunity, saying it would help them contribute to family and community development. According to him, the ICT centre within the programme would help students stay updated with skills required for computer-based tests. He noted that CBT has become compulsory for examinations such as JAMB and SSCE. He added that with the right skills, young girls would avoid behaviours that could cut short their dreams early in life.
A facilitator of the programme, Amina Lawal, said the decision to focus on the girl child was deliberate because they remain the most vulnerable. She explained that girls aged 14 to 16 were more likely to make mistakes that could affect their future, adding that giving them skills at that stage would help them stay focused and stable.
One of the participants, Perpeture Emmanuel, an SS2 student of Iba Housing Estate Secondary School, said she had always loved make-up. She said she hoped the programme would help her learn the skill and pursue her goal of becoming a make-up artist.
