By Shafi’u Saleh
The House of Representatives (HoR) member representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde, Rt Hon Kwamoti B. La’ori Federal constituency in the National Assembly applauded constituents who have graduated from different skills acquisition art works in Numan.
Laori who is the House Committee chairman on Cooperation and integration in Africa said his leadership style over the years is Law, and programs that is impacting the lives of his people through different empowerment programs.
Laori who spoke during the graduation ceremony warned the beneficiaries trained on various skills acquisition never to sell the equipments given to them as start up packs for whatever reasons.
According to him he has been sponsoring indigenes of his constituency for many years on various empowerments, trainings and distributed equipment to groups and individuals,but found out that that almost 90% of the beneficiaries sells the equipment after receiving, at a cost far less than the original value.
Laori worried lack of interest by many beneficiaries is resulting to sustainance of the skill acquired but the few that have utilized the skills effectively are living a meaningful life out of it.
Laori also said lack of follow up after empowerment to ascertain the extent to which participants have utilized the skills and also poor business development, management and accounting skills amongst others are some of the reasons ideas of skills acquisition is not lasting long
The Lawmaker however reiterated his commitment to improve youth trainees on Footwear and leather Product manufacturing in the constituency.
Laori who has done much on the area of Youth empowerment for the past years congratulated the trainees graduates in Numan and said is highly delighted to witness the historic occasion weeks long training.
“I am proud to be a part of this ceremony because it has been a part of my vision to see to it that youths are empowered with skills and knowledge that make them self-reliant, trainers, wealth creators and employers of labor.
“I understand that, amongst the trainees are SSCE, Diploma and NCE Certificate holders and rather than parade your certificates in search of white collar jobs,you have humbled yourselves to learn the skill of shoe making and leather products manufacturing, You have made me proud.
“Therefore, in order to bridge that gap, I have in place a mechanism of tracking, monitoring and evaluating as well as rewarding success because ultimately, the goal is to raise future entrepreneurs whose work can be competitive with global brands and knowledge to the growing population and emerging generation and not limited to Numan, Adamawa State.
“Hence, on successful completion of this training today, you would be promoted to a platform that would educate you on business development, management and capacity building skills.” Laori said
He told the graduates who are twenty in number that they are a brand of skills acquisition trainees that they can also train others, therefore is promoting them to another class that they will learn how to build their businesses from the scratch and sustain same, and be thought how to register their company name and create a niche for themselves; develop their brands and grow same to compete in the global market.
“You would be trained on how to access facilities from Bank of Industry and SMEDAN to boast your capital base just like I facilitated for farmers to access Agricultural Loans from NIRSAL running into Hundreds of Millions” he said
He added that “the goal is not just to make them self-reliant but to make them trainers and employers of labor and the training they received weeks ago would create trans-generational wealth.
He revealed that the presentation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill, also known as annual budget estimate few days ago by the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR presented would be good for human capital development and the development of small and medium scale enterprises.
He cheered them with the good news that last Wednesday, the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) announced the partnership signed with Sterling and Access Banks where small and medium scale businesses can access loans ranging from 250,000 to 2.5 Million at less than 10% interest rate.
“I encourage you to further source for information on the internet on other opportunities provided by government to support your kind of business, With the knowledge you have been empowered with today.
“I look forward to seeing you develop something in the class of these global brands with your creativity. If you can achieve this, I promise to recommend your brands to my colleagues and patronize your brands.
“With the growing number of first class graduates of tertiary institutions seeking employment in government cycle, the few available white collar jobs would continue to be scarce and highly competitive.” Laori revealed
In his word of encouragement and boost their morales, he said is not against government employment but support being the job creator and he wish to partner with them to achieve greater heights.
“I like the former president of America, Abraham Lincoln whose Father was a shoe maker and was proud of his profession, I want you to know that your market is always increasing with every child Birth. Take advantage of this and make name for yourself and your generation unborn.” Laori said.
In his address, the Director Legal Services, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) Zaria, Barrister Yakubu Afuwai applauded Hon Laori for the guest.
Mr Afuwai assured that the institute would continue to work in fulfilment of Laori’s vision to achieve the goals of not only his constituency or Adamawa State but the entire Youth of Nigeria
In his speech on behalf of the graduate, Mr Julius commanded the member for his continued assistance and sponsored the youth particularly on the area of empowerment.
