The former deputy governor of Osun State, Mrs. Grace Tomori-Ponnle, has called for empowerment of women and youths as key to national development.
Mrs Laoye-Ponle said this on Saturday in Osogbo as she launched a foundation focused on empowering women and youths to reduce poverty and enhance national development.
According to Mrs. Tomori-Ponnle, “The foundation has been set up to deliver our youth and women from unnecessary poverty in Nigeria.
“Our youth, even after having university education, focus on securing jobs with government or employment in the private sector. These jobs are no longer available.”
“The foundation aims to train graduates and undergraduates in skill acquisition, enabling them to set up their own businesses or get employed by reputable organizations.
“They’ll be able to take off many youths and women in particular from the labor markets,” Mrs. Tomori-Ponnle added.
“The foundation’s programs include catering and hospitality courses at the Obafemi Awolowo University, as well as digital marketing, coding, and research-affiliated courses.
“We also want to run them through workshops where they will be given courses and training on business successes, how to manage businesses effectively,” she said.
The Former Governor of Osun State and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, commended Mrs. Tomori-Ponnle for the initiative, stating that it will aid national development within the state and the country.
“I am glad to be here today to witness this laudable initiative aimed at empowering women and youths to harness their potential, and succeed in different areas of endeavours.
“Today’s event is quite significant because the Foundation through its initiatives, will contribute its own quota towards inspiring the dreams of millions of Nigerian youths who make up over half of the country’s population, and our women a strong pillar for societal development.
“The empowerment of our women and youths are critical for national growth and prosperity, which is a core pillar of the Renewed Hope of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Empowering our youth population will help them unlock their potential and create a brighter future for the country, just as empowering our women will also help reduce poverty and vulnerability in society.
“I am pleased to know that even before today’s official event, the Foundation, a brainchild of Her Excellency, Otunba Grace Titilayo Tomori-Ponle, has already started ‘walking-the-talk’ in its vision to provide education, skills development and support to beneficiaries for personal and professional development”, Oyetola added.
Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, Former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University and Chairman Board of Trustees of the foundation, reiterated that the foundation will bring positive transformation to the women and youths sector, aiding economic independence.
While addressing the audience online, the Vice Chairman of Channels Media Group, Dr (Mrs) Olushola Momoh encouraged civic engagement and leadership among the women and youths.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Guest Speaker at the occasion, emphasized the importance of empowering women and girls, saying, “There is no country that can achieve any of its development goals if women and girls are not empowered.”
“Our governments, our academic institutions, the corporate sector, civil society, political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, young people, parents, everyone has a role to play in ensuring that there’s an enabling environment for women, girls and young people to thrive”, she explained.
Present at the events were notable personalities, monarchs, wife of the former governor of Ogun State, Olufunsho Amosun, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, representative of the Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau, Musa Ladan; Former Osun Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, and a host among others .
