Oluseyi Bisiriyu foundation empowers Ogun indigenes with equipment after skill acquisition training
Sodiq Ojuroungbe
It was really a dream come through moments for 35 youths of Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun state when a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Oluseyi Bisiriyu foundation gave them equipment after training them on different skills.
The NGO in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria trained the youths on skills which include; hairdressing, ICT, shoe making, Tailoring, and Barbing.
The United State based lawyer also donated working equipment to all the 36 beneficiaries of the skills acquisition programme.
Speaking on the essence of the empowerment programme, Barrister Bisiriyu explained that the gesture is to give back to hus community.
The Egba-born philanthropist explained that empowering the youths will reduce the insecurity and unemployment that have beclouded the community.
He added, “government does not need to do everything for us, I believe that personal effort does more than government even if government changes today and it had more opportunities tomorrow it will still not change the economic opportunity that some people needed to move forward if they don’t have the desire themselves to do something for themselves
“What I have done is to provide a short platform, I am not taking over everything, I am just saying that if you have desire to be successful and you’ve been waiting for somebody to push you, then I’m the guy that will push them and taken over just a couple by themselves.
“I just want my role as a single citizens whose desire is to help people who are poor and think government is their problem and then tell them that it is up to them to move forward.”
Speaking on his future plan for the people of the state, Bisiriyu noted that plans are underway to ensure that people from other part of the state benefit.
He added,” it is meant to be across the whole of Ogun state and there is no discrimination here , it has no geographic barrier or senatorial barrier, but because resources are limited we have to start from somewhere.
“I am originated or my parents originated from Abeokuta North LG, I started from there and we need a conglomerate of youth to tap from, that’s why I partnered with National youth council.”
On his message to the beneficiaries, he added, “I’m not saying that when I provide these opportunities, then you become a millionaire that’s not the case, which is not natural, what I am saying is that they need to work hard , have a dream, Know where they are going , be persistent ,commit yourself to be successful in life.
“It is not that all these is going to be a waste, we are going to try to monitor them a little bit by having a template, model that we will say these is what work for the first batch then we can improve on that.”
In his address, the coordinator of NYCN, Abeokuta Branch, Comrade Emmanuel Ojo described the gesture by the philanthropist as one of its kind.
Ojo however promised that the council will facilitate more of such project to Abeokuta North LG.
