The Michael Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) on Thursday in Ilorin empowered 25 youths with skills in garment making, tailoring and fashion designing.
Speaking at the graduation of the trainees, Mr Issa Aremu, the Director General of the Institute, stated that the initiative is part of the Federal Government’s policy of the National Employment Programme.
He observed that skills acquisition helps the youth to develop a positive attitude toward work and labour.
According to Aremu the skills make youths productive and help to reduce the crime rate in society.
The director general explained that the trainees went through thorough and painstaking efforts to acquire skills in clothes making and fashion.
According to him, the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on national transformation, in mass job creation for the teeming youth in the country.
The D-G pointed out that for Nigeria to be economically self-reliant, we must encourage the youth to embrace self-employment through skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, self-reliance and financial empowerment.
In his address, Mr Adeyemi Rasaq, the Head of the Training Department of the Institute, explained that the institute is keying into the transformative agenda of the present administration.
He stated that a total of 25 trainees went through extensive training in Garment making, Fashion design and Tailoring for a period of 21 days.
He also added that the institute also empowered them with tools to start their businesses.
Also speaking, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Michael Oyediran advised the graduates to make judicious use of the skills acquired and the sewing machines presented to empower them to start a business.
He reminded them that MINILS and Nigeria as a whole expect much from them so that they can contribute to the development of the nation.
“This opportunity is to empower you to reduce unemployment and achieve professional competence.
“Make good use of the opportunity and develop yourself and be self-reliant,” he said.
A representative of the graduates, Miss Mary Frances commended the institute for adding value to their lives, through skills and empowerment tools.
She said the skills acquired have afforded them the opportunity to become employed, adding that it helps reduce the rate of unemployment in Nigeria.
