Itesiwaju local government of Oyo State is in for another giant strides as New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD-Nigeria visited the council. It was facilitated by council chairman- Mr. Niyi Adeagbo.
Apart from inspecting major facilities at the 20-year council area, the organisation also discussed ways of resuscitating the councils skill acquisition centre and upgrading into Progressive Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training School.
Speaking on behalf of Princess Gloria Akobundu, its national coordinator/C.EO, NEPAD’s Director, Programmes Development & Implementation, Mr. Enobong Emmanuel Abang, said he was honoured and privileged to be in the council area.
Thanking Adeagbo for his earlier visit to NEPAD’s Abuja office last June, he said the chairman’s quest to fulfil his dreams of galvanising the potentials of the youths in his area for the overall development of his local government, Oyo State and the country at large is unrivalled.
He added that the chairman’s visit in June 2017 “metamorphosed to where we are today.”
He said further: ‘As you are aware, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Nigeria is the socio-economic flagship progamme of the African Union; and has the primary responsibility for facilitating the domestication of programmes and projects adopted at the continental level. In this regard, we are mandated to identify and work with partners in the public and private sectors, including civil societies and international organisations operating in Nigeria to facilitate, promote and monitor the implementation of programmes and projects. And NEPAD Nigeria is happy to make it abundantly clear to the entire continent that Itesiwaju LGA was the first public sector to partner with us.
“The NEPAD Nigeria, therefore, attracts and mobilises investment towards achieving some of the Africa Union Member States’ developmental goals of poverty eradication, promotion of sustainable growth and development, acceleration of the empowerment of women and youths through capacity building, food security and skills acquisition amongst others. All these activities are not doubt in line with the mandate of NEPAD Nigeria, the present government policy of bringing change to the people and I am sure it is same with the dream and desires of Itesiwaju LGA.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I want to sincerely use this opportunity to commend the entire staff of the local government for their desired level of commitment, support and loyalty in ensuring that this laudadable project comes to fruition. It is my belief that the Enterpreneuship and Skills Acquisition School will become a centre of excellence for the training of women and youths from the local government and the entire state.”
Speaking earlier, Adeagbo said the partnership with NEPAD Nigeria will surely yield resuscitation and upgrading of our moribund skills acquisition centre in Okaka into a world-class Vocational and Enterpreneuship Training School that will mainly focus on tailoring, cosmetology, agriculture, technology, shoe making, building technology and computer technology.’
He said that if youths and women are engaged in positive economic activities, it would go a long in reducing incidences of crimes in the country.
According to the council boss, Itesiwaju LGA has more than120,000 hectares of arable land suitable for agriculture as this will enable them go into food production to ensure food security for the masses.
He explained that the collaboration with NEPAD will enable these farmers improve their farming system. He explained that the local government was thinking along the same line in terms of empowering the youth and women so that they would be useful not only to themselves but also to Nigeria society.
He said: “The essence of the collaboration was to ensure that when the youth from the area graduate they would find something useful to do to earn a living.”
He thanked NEPAD Nigeria for considering Itesiwaju LGA a worthy partner-in-progress.
Adeagbo later led the delegation to inspect the moribund skills acquisition centre facility located in Okaka.
On the NEPAD team were Mr. Andrew Ogu Agi (Deputy Director, Programmes Development & Implementation), Nwaeze Offor Afam (Special Assistant, Programmes & Infrastructure] of the N.C/C.E.O NEPAD Nigeria) as well as Mrs. Popoola Omolara Abiodun (Voice of Nigeria).
