A member of the House of Representatives representing Oyo Federal Constituency, comprising Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West local governments in Oyo State, Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi, has reiterated the need for Nigeria to invest massively in a kowledge-based economy to get the country out of recession.
Adeniyi stated this on Monday in Oyo town at the presentation of sewing machines and certificates to 67 participants at a month training programme on tailoring and fashion designs.
The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, in conjunction with Adeniyi, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Communications, organised one month training programme for women and youths on fashion designs in the four local governments that
constitute the Oyo FederaL Constituency.
According to him, ‘’youth empowerment is not about spoon feeding youths or dropping some money in their pockets. The concept means
making the youths meaningfully beneficial to them and to the larger society.
‘’Empowerment relates to those who are powerless. The Poor need power and a range of assets and capabilities to increase their well-being
and security as well as their self-confidence, so that they can negotiate with those more powerful
‘’Given the numerical strength and energy of the young people, there is the need to conceive a policy to empower and involve the youth in productive economic activities. Youth empowerment involves exposure to
and upgrading of relevant skills in order to increase their competency and efficiency’’.
The Federal Legislator noted that the youthful stage is the highest period of energy in the human life cycle to make gainful contribution to meaningful productivity of a country like Nigeria, which when directed and utilized effectively determines the extent of success
achieved during the remainder of the life cycle.
Said he, ‘’youths are middle men between the young and old generations. They are agents of change, carriers of information and values which need to be transferred from the passing generation to the new generation. Youth empowerment, beyond formal education, will involve exposure to, and upgrading of relevant skills, instilling core values, increasing competence and efficiency and creating an
environment for the implementation and sustainability of acquired skills, amongst other things.
” Meaningful youth empowerment is one of
the forces which could create economic development and impact on productivity”.
Adeniyi, one of the children of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, hinted that it was in recognition of the significance of a huge size of the youth
population, which is one third of the country’s population of 160 million people as a veritable tool in development he is making it a point of duty to adopt and make youths empowerment a cardinal agenda in his responsibility socially and economically.
This, he pointed out, is done with a view to shaping the youths for meaningful life and productive contributions to nation building, and
underlies the need to integrate and tap these human resources for economic growth and development.
The Federal lawmaker also disclosed that he donated a sum of N3 million to the popular Akesan market victims, as part of his social responsibility to the coinstituents.
Tragedy struck in the ancient town of Oyo on Sunday, January 5, 2020, when fire razed Akesan Market, the town’s main commercial centre,
almost entirely, as stores containing goods worth many millions of naira were destroyed in the outbreak.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates and sewing machines to each of the participants.
In the same vein, Adeniyi also commissioned a solar powered borehole for the people
of Bizinnilahi Estate, Celestial area. The community development project facilitated by the legislator was sponsored by the MTNF.
