Ambassador Omodele Adebola, founder of the Bola Omodele Foundation (BOF) and the defunct Youth Independent Coalition (YIC), has congratulated the newly elected chairmen of Agege Local Government and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area, urging them to prioritize youth empowerment through vocational training.
In an open letter addressed to the chairmen, Adebola expressed optimism about the opportunities ahead for both councils and emphasized the urgent need to tackle unemployment, particularly among young people. According to him, the high rate of joblessness has contributed to social problems such as poverty, crime, and insecurity.
Drawing from his foundation’s experience, Adebola highlighted the success of BOF’s vocational training programmes, which have graduated over 500 students in areas including catering, beadwork, tailoring, hairdressing, and barbing. He revealed that more than 60 percent of graduates have either become self-employed or created jobs for others.
“The success of our vocational training programme can be attributed to its practical approach, which equips students with the skills they need to succeed in their chosen vocations,” Adebola noted.
He recommended the establishment of standard vocational training centres in each ward of Agege and Orile-Agege. These centres, he said, should expand beyond current offerings to include courses in bricklaying, welding, tiling, painting, electrical work, plumbing, and automotive repair.
Adebola stressed that such initiatives would not only reduce unemployment and poverty but also foster entrepreneurship, curb crime, and contribute to the economic development of the councils.
“I am confident that if these vocational training centres are set up across the length and breadth of Agege and Orile-Agege, we will experience a turnaround in the lives of our people within the shortest possible time,” he stated.
The philanthropist also aligned his call with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that Lagos State is undergoing massive transformation through mega projects in both public and private sectors. He argued that now is the best time to position local residents to harness the opportunities such projects bring.
Adebola concluded by expressing his readiness to collaborate with the chairmen, saying: “Let us work together to empower our youth, reduce unemployment, and improve the lives of our people.”
Read the full letter below:
OPEN LETTER TO THE CHAIRMEN OF AGEGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ORILE-AGEGE LOCAL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AREA
Dear Honourable Chairmen,
Warmest congratulations on your election. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our communities, and I look forward to working with you to build a brighter future for the people of Agege and Orile-Agege.
As a concerned citizen and founder of Bola Omodele Foundation (BOF) and the defunct Youth Independent Coalition (YIC), a non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering youth through vocational training and supporting the widows, widowers and less privileged with our philanthropy gestures, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight areas that require attention and propose impactful solutions. One of the most pressing issues facing our communities is unemployment, particularly among our youth. Many of our young people are struggling to find meaningful employment, and this has contributed to a range of social problems, including poverty, crime, and insecurity.
However, I believe that vocational training can be a powerful tool in addressing these challenges. Our experience with Bola Omodele Foundation (BOF) and Youth Independent Coalition (YIC) has shown remarkable success in this area. We have graduated over 500 students, with vocations like cake and pastries making, bead and wireworks training, tailoring, hairdressing, barbing, among others. This program by our tracking has a success rate of over 60%, with many graduates becoming self-employed and even employing others. I believe that this model can be replicated in our local governments, and that has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of our people.
The success of our vocational training program can be attributed to its practical approach, which equips students with the skills they need to succeed in their chosen vocations. By providing hands-on training and mentorship, we have been able to empower our students to become confident and self-reliant individuals. I believe that this approach can be replicated in our local governments, and that can have a lasting impact on the lives of our people.
In light of this, I recommend establishing standard vocational training centers in each Ward of Agege and Orile-Agege. These centers can offer a range of courses, in addition to what I listed above, bricklaying, welding, tilling, painting, electrician, plumbing, and motor mechanic training (rewire, mechanic, panel beater, and spray painter). By providing our youth with these skills, we will empower them to become self-employed and contribute to the economic development of our communities and the tax pool.
The benefits of this approach are numerous. By equipping our youth with vocational skills, we will provide our youth with the skills they need to succeed, reduce unemployment and poverty, and improve our community’s image. We will also foster entrepreneurship and innovation, and create a culture of self-reliance and hard work. Furthermore, by providing our people with the skills they need to succeed, we will reduce the prevalence of social vices and crime, and create a safer and more prosperous community for all.
I am confident that if these vocational training centers are set up across the length and breadth of Agege and Orile-Agege, we will experience a turnaround in the life of our people within the shortest possible time. Once this is implemented, it will be easy to isolate those who are not ready to commit to change and deal with them decisively.
The Renew Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is yielding expected results and Lagos State is experiencing a major transformation with various mega projects, both in public and private sector springing up all across the State and I believe there is no better way and time to position our people in harnessing this huge opportunities.
I look forward to your implementation of this initiatives and working together to make Agege and Orile-Agege thrive. I believe that together, we can build a brighter future for our communities, and create opportunities for our people to succeed. Let us work together to empower our youth, reduce unemployment, and improve the lives of our people.
Thanks!
Yours Sincerely,
Ambassador Omodele Adebola,
Founder, Bola Omodele Foundation (BOF)
