The Ruth Aina Ataiyero Foundation (RAAF) is set to commission a vocational and skills acquisition centre aimed at supporting efforts towards lifting Nigerian youths out of poverty and unemployment.
Founded in memory of the wife of Prince Samson Adebanjo Ataiyero of Ilesa in Osun State, the centre, which is situated in the ancient Ilesa city, is scheduled to be commissioned on Saturday, 5 October, 2024.
In a statement shared with journalists ahead of the event by the Foundation, the initiative is in fulfillment of the wishes of late Princess Ruth Ataiyero, who had hoped to expand her support for the younger generation.
The husband, Prince Samson Ataiyero, who signed the statement, said his late wife’s wish was to institute an endowment to support youths of Ilesa, Ilobu, and Ifon and lift them out of poverty, hunger and other social vices.
The statement reads in part: “We were in Morocco to celebrate my 70th birthday, and my wife told me that as soon as we returned to Nigeria, she would meet the Anglican Bishop of Ilesa to map out the strategies to achieve her desire.
“Unfortunately, she passed on and could not make the return trip back to Nigeria. This was a great blow to all of us both within and outside the immediate family”.
According to him, Princess Ataiyero lived an impactful life, giving lots of her attention to activities geared toward helping those who needed her assistance, particularly the poor and the less privileged.
Meanwhile, on the same day when the commissioning of the centre is set to hold, Prince Ataiyero will be installed as the Baba Ijo of St. John Anglican Cathedral, Iloro, Ilesa.
ABOUT THE CENTRE
Following the transition of Princess Ataiyero, the immediate family thought it deserving to keep her wish alive. “Thus, the Ruth Aina Ataiyero Foundation (RAAF) was registered. The Vocational and Skills Acquisition Centre is the Foundation’s first project aimed at achieving her dream of assisting young people, by providing vocational education and employment skills development, especially for children from deprived backgrounds.”
He said the vocational education and training programme of the centre will provide learners with essential skills “to enhance employability, support personal development, and encourage active citizenship.”
“The centre will also boost enterprise performance, competitiveness, research and innovation,” the statement also noted.
It added that the centre will ensure good donor financing, management, and accountability practices that “will be committed to promoting standards and enhancing the implementation of various programmes which at takeoff will include, Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Unisex Hairstyling & Makeup Artistry, Fashion Designing, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, and Catering Sciences/Event Planning.”
The Foundation also pledged that with the support of would-be donors and partners, more programmes will be added to those the Centre currently offers.
FREE TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Meanwhile, the Foundation shall enroll beneficiaries from Ilesa, Ilobu and Ifon.
Princess Ataiyero hailed from Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, while her parents lived in Ifon-Osun, headquarters of Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State.
The Foundation has also concluded that beneficiaries from the three towns will enjoy free enrollment and provision of necessary tools and seed capital upon completion of their training.
However, it noted that other beneficiaries will be made to pay token to support the administration and management of the centre.
It should be observed that “Upon acquisition of vocational skills at the centre, the foundation shall support the graduands with basic tools in their individual chosen vocations and provide them with initial one-year shop rent, to place them on a better startup footing, and give them the opportunity to effectively contribute their quota to society”.
The statement also revealed that soon, the Foundation’s scope shall be expanded to include, “but not limited to; providing food, shelter, healthcare, scholarship, disaster relief, and advocating for vulnerable populations, among other interventions.”
About the deceased
According to the Foundation, the deceased-Princess Ruth Aina Ataiyero, was not just “a beloved and dutiful wife,” but also “an amazing mother and grandmother.”
“Princess Ataiyero was an amazon genuinely committed and passionate about investing her time, energy and resources in the art of building and supporting all who are lucky to have come in contact with her. She was always ready and willing to support any cause that will advance humanity.
“She virtually worked all her life, towards contributing her quota in ensuring a world that is worth living for people around her. Her focus typically revolved around helping those in need, alleviating suffering of the unserved, promoting social justice, and positively changing the communities in which she lived. All of these attributes made the idea of establishing the foundation and building a befitting vocational and skills acquisition centre, a worthwhile venture,” the statement added.
