LASG trains 26,049 youths

[Punch]

Lagos State Government said 26,049 youths had been trained on various skill acquisition programmes meant to reduce the level of poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goal number One.

Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said this on Friday at a press conference to mark Governor Babatunde Fashola's sixth year in office.

Orelope-Adefulire who oversees the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said the students were drawn from 35 states of the federation as well as from neighbouring countries.

She said the 13 skill acquisition centres in the states had responded to the needs of young entrepreneurs and had created a platform for their self reliance and wealth creation.

She said in the period under review, government carried out upgrade and expansion of Lagos Island and Egbeda Skill acquisition centres to take additional students and to increase the number of skills.

She also added that renovation of Surulere, Mushin, Shibiri, Egan, Kosofe, Ikorodu 1 and 11, Ibeju Lekki, Igbo-Oye, Iba, Ejigbo and Badagry skill acquisition centres was embarked upon to provide effective  training programmes.

She also listed the construction of Ilase Skill acquisition centre, garri processing facility, cold room, market stalls and viewing centre at Ilase Riverine Community of Amuwo Odofin Local Government.

On efforts to minimise the trend of child abuse, she said, "Government stepped up its campaign to show its zero tolerance for child abuse.

"The trend of baby trafficking will not be tolerated as the government will not hesitate to prosecute those found perpetrating the act.

"Child traffickers from other states have no safe haven in Lagos. They are not safe at all and the long arm of the law will reach them."

The Punch