No fewer than 400 residents of Ogun Central Senatorial District have benefitted from an empowerment initiative facilitated by a former lawmaker, Senator Olugbenga Obadara.
The week-long programme, which took place in three locations across Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, featured intensive training in livestock management, Shea butter processing, and piggery.
According to the organisers, 150 participants received training on livestock farming, another 150 were equipped with knowledge of Shea butter processing, while the final batch were trained in piggery and provided with starter packs.
At the closing ceremony, Senator Obadara reaffirmed his commitment to community development, stating that his passion for empowering the people of Ogun Central remains unwavering.
“In the last 15 years, I have been serving the Egbas and I will never be tired of serving. I’m not in competition with anybody,” he said.
“This empowerment is not about giving people items to sell, but equipping them with sustainable skills. If you are diligent, you can build a fortune from what you’ve learned here.”
To kickstart their businesses, each participant in the piggery training received three pigs and feed. Obadara warned beneficiaries against selling the animals, urging them instead to focus on long-term gains.
He revealed that the goal is to train 1,000 people, with the next phase focusing on ICT and paint production.
“We have trained 400 so far, and the next set of 150 will be trained in ICT and paint production,” he added.
The training was conducted by Magic Touch Business Solution Limited, under the technical supervision of the Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa.
Lead consultant, Mr. Olajide Ibitoye, expressed optimism that the initiative would reduce unemployment by turning participants into small-scale entrepreneurs.
“This programme is not just about starting a business. We are teaching them how to grow and sustain it,” he said.
“Some of them are already constructing pens for their animals and planning their business operations. These are trades that require minimal space and can start right in their backyards.”
Ibitoye commended Senator Obadara for the vision and called on other public-spirited Nigerians to support similar empowerment efforts.
A participant, Balogun Adekoyejo Lamidi, described the training as a life-changing experience.
“I’ve always had the intention to go into farming. I didn’t have the time before, but I made time for this five-day programme. I’ve learnt a lot and I’m committed to putting it to good use,” he said.
The initiative is part of Senator Obadara’s continued effort to uplift his constituency through practical, grassroots-oriented programmes aimed at job creation and poverty reduction.
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