By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Social Democratic Party (SDP) House of Representatives candidate for the Ilorin East/Ilorin South federal constituency, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Cook-Olododo, has empowered 100 youths with training on Information Communication Technology (ICT) aimed at making them self-reliant and shun crimes.
The SDP National Assembly candidate also presented the youths with 100 brand new hp laptops after their five-day training programme.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training programme in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, on Friday, the lawmaker, who presently represents his constituency under the APC, said that the five-day training programme was organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin.
He said that the 100 beneficiaries of the programme would also be presented with computer tables, computer accessories, antivirus software, among others, at the end of their training programme.
Alhaji Cook-Olododo also said that the participants, selected across the two local governments in his federal constituency, would be given financial empowerment to assist them in taking off in good time.
He recalled that similar training programme was organised last year when he presented 100 beneficiaries with brand new laptops.
“As part of campaign promises made to represent my constituents responsibly, it’s a vow to empower youths in the area and improve their well-being. This is the only way to empower youths because the programme is aimed to achieve self-employment and improve socioeconomic development of the constituents. The area had never had representation like this before”, he said.
The SDP candidate, who said that the laptops are meant to improve their future and make them responsible citizens, added that youths are future of the country.
He advised them to extend the commitment exhibited since the commencement of the training beyond the programme, saying they should not sell it.
“It’s meant to make you responsible for your family and the society at large”, he said.
The lawmaker, who said that SDP is the party to beat in the state with its people-oriented programmes and projects aimed at improving lives of the people, added that other candidates are being challenged to do same.
Cook-Olododo, who charged the people to see the next general elections as crucial, said that the elections for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate are more important than others.
He explained that the representatives are closer to people and could cause positive change and development for people with their legislation.
The beneficiaries of the training programme, packaged by Synergy Impact Limited, included unemployed youths, undergraduates, post graduate students, artisans, among others.
Also speaking, the executive director of the NSPRI, Dr. Patricia Pessu, represented by Dr. Fidelis Awagwu, described the training programme as a source of means of livelihood for the participants, urging the beneficiaries to utilize it judiciously.
“I see it as working tools to improve their lives for good, in form of better employment opportunities, self development etc. It’s not meant for play and they should not sell it. That may mean selling their birthright. It’s a lifetime opportunity and they should make use of it well”, he said.
Some of the beneficiaries, who include a PhD student of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Ayuba Abdulrazaq,
said that the laptop would help him on paper writing as he had been without assistance for a long time, while an unemployed graduate of about eight years, Nafisat Adebayo, said that she would use the training to develop herself and be self reliant.