Last month, Alimosho Local Government secured a partnership with the German Institution, Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to boost agriculture, education and vocational skills in the communities. The facilitator of that partnership is Comrade Afeez Yusuf Omogbolahan, popularly known as CAYO. In this interview with Community Standard, the German-trained Environmental Resources Expert, explained the details of the partnership, and says, other LCDAs within Alimosho will also benefit from the programme.
We understand that you are the link that facilitated the partnership between Alimosho local government and GIZ, what was the motivation behind it?
Series of collaboration is being done with the Lagos State Government. It is yielding great results, so I thought it would yield greater results if this partnership is done with the Local Governments. Community development is one endeavour I enjoy which is premised on the understanding I got from my mentor and leader, that what makes you an achiever is not about the number of trophies you received but the number of lives you have positively influenced. Therefore, capacity building, youth and women empowerment and socio-economic development are key areas that promote unity and development within the society. Do not forget, it is not all of us that will get office jobs, some of us will work in the office but some will do vocational jobs which I considered sustainable because your boss can wake up one morning and decide to sack you. Promoting vocational skills enriches and promotes the informal sector, creates job for the people, boost Government IGR and makes a happy society.
Can you expatiate more on the specifics of the partnership?
Like I mentioned earlier, this partnership borders on training and enhancing capacity of youths and women in the area of fish farming, poultry farming, software development, shoes and bags making, fashion design, events planning and decorations, catering and baking, rabbit farming, crop farming amongst others. It is important to note that after this training, participants will be empowered with necessary tools they will need for such practice and they will be armed with approaches to sustainability of their businesses.
How will the people of Alimosho partake in this whole arrangements?
We have taken four major steps in this partnership. We hope to take two steps more after which application forms will be rolled out for residents of Alimosho to apply and participate in the programme.
What are the overall benefits for the local government?
It will create jobs for residents. It will create market for the said skills which translate to more IGR to the Local Government and it will curb menaces of unemployment and insecurities within the Local Government.
Is this partnership going to be extended to other LCDAs within Alimosho?
Definitely, I cannot not count the number of calls and messages I have received on this. This partnership will benefit residents of Mosan-Okunola, Ayobo-Ipaja, Egbe-Idimu, Agbado-Okeodo and Igando-Ikotun LCDAs.
