The immediate past Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, High Chief (Alh.) Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi (JP), has commended the incumbent chairman, Hon. Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, for sustaining and expanding the council’s Skill Acquisition Programme, describing the move as evidence of visionary and people-oriented governance.
Egunjobi gave the commendation at the Skills Elevation Graduation Ceremony held at the Agege Council Secretariat Hall, where beneficiaries who completed vocational and digital training were formally celebrated.
The empowerment initiative, organised in collaboration with Speed Up Lagos (Anti-Poverty Squad), provided participants with practical training in home essentials production, food processing and packaging, catering, make-up and gele styling, digital technology, hairstyling, fashion design and sandals production.
Speaking at the event, which he attended alongside former Chairman of Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area, Hon. Johnson Sunday Babatunde, Egunjobi recalled that the programme was conceived during his administration as a strategic intervention to combat unemployment and stimulate micro-enterprise growth at the grassroots.
“It is profoundly fulfilling to witness the sustenance and expansion of this initiative,” he said. “When we introduced this programme, our objective was to build a structured empowerment framework that would promote self-reliance and economic dignity. Its continuity today demonstrates that governance in Agege is anchored on institutional strength and developmental consistency.”
He praised Hon. Obasa for preserving and strengthening impactful policies rather than discarding them.
“True leadership is measured not merely by new initiatives, but by the ability to preserve and improve upon impactful policies. The Executive Chairman has shown dedication to sustaining this empowerment architecture, reinforcing our shared vision for inclusive growth,” he stated.
Addressing the graduands, Egunjobi urged them to treat their certification as a launchpad for economic independence.
“Today is not an end; it is a beginning. The skills you have acquired are tools of transformation. Deploy them with discipline, creativity and integrity. Let your products and services reflect your professionalism,” he advised.
He further encouraged them to cultivate resilience, financial prudence and innovation, stressing the importance of reinvesting earnings, expanding capacity and maintaining quality standards in order to build sustainable enterprises.
Egunjobi also called on beneficiaries to extend opportunities to others within their communities.
“As you grow economically, lift others. Mentor someone, create employment where possible and become ambassadors of the positive change unfolding in Agege. Sustainable development thrives when empowered individuals replicate opportunity,” he said.
Stakeholders at the ceremony described the sustained skill acquisition initiative as a critical component of Agege’s grassroots development agenda. They noted that its structured approach to vocational training and complementary economic support has boosted productivity and strengthened micro-enterprises within the local economy.
Observers said the continuity of the programme reflects a governance culture that prioritises policy consistency, community inclusion and measurable impact. With expanded empowerment schemes and targeted economic grants supporting small business owners, traders, women, youth and persons with disabilities, the council’s development strategy is expected to further deepen local enterprise and enhance household resilience.
For many beneficiaries, the graduation ceremony signified more than a celebration of achievement; it underscored the role of accountable leadership and sustained policy implementation in driving sustainable grassroots development.
