Former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called for heavy investment into the vocational education and skills acquisition for young people, describing it as the only way out of the current economic hardship.
Aregbesola made this call on Saturday at the commissioning of Ruth Aina Ataiyero Foundation in Ilesa.
The Foundation, which was founded by Prince Samson Ataiyero, in memory of his wife, Late Princess Ruth Aina Ataiyero, will train youths on skills and vocation at zero cost.
The Foundation will also be making available equipment and cash grants to cover office rent for the first year, for graduates.
Speaking at the commissioning, Aregbesola lauded the vision of Prince Ataiyero.
The former Interior Minister also congratulated the Founder on his installation as the Baba Ijo of St. John's Cathedral earlier in the day, describing his selection as a recognition of his devotion and dedication to God and humanity, adding that the church has been an icon of leadership in Ijesha land for ages.
"Today's ceremony is more than a vision, it's a call to action. We must all support this and ensure we go further to unlock our people's potentials. What we are here to do is recommended for everyone. If you have no capacity to do it singlehandedly, support existing ones.
"Nigeria must invest heavily in vocational education and skills acquisition. This is the only way to the current economic hardship. Our people must be skillful and must be able to use their hands.
"Statistics has shown that the number of out of school children is increasing and we must engage these important population through vocation and entrepreneurship."
He advised the Founder to put people with experience and character in charge of the Foundation to ensure effective management.
He said, "You can build a very beautiful house and put monkeys, pigs and goats inside, if you look at the same house after a few years, you will observe that the house would have been brought to the level of the occupants. But if you put a set of well educated, highly cultured, socially, politically and religiously advanced people in the jungle. When you go to observe them a few years later, they would have transformed their environment into the archetypes. I encourage you to put people with experience into the management of this edifice."
How the RAA Foundation will operate
While addressing the gathering, Prince Ataiyero said the Foundation was envisioned by his wife while she was on sick bed before she died and bringing it into reality was in fulfilment of her wishes.
"When my wife was alive, she always liked to help, support and assist people around her. When she was on the sick bed, she said when she gets back to Nigeria, she will see the Bishop of Ilesha Cathedral on how to support the less privileged and the youths. So after her painful demise, we decided to make her vision a reality.
"So, based on that we set up this foundation, this skills acquisition centre. With this centre, we intend to train applicants from Ijeshaland, Ifon-Osun, and Ilobu for free.
After their graduation, maybe after six months of training, we will support them with a seed to at least start their own businesses and will continue to support them where it is necessary to grow and be of help to the society."
Prince Ataiyero installed as Baba Ijo of St John's Cathedral
Earlier in the day, the Bishop of St. John's Cathedral, Ilesa, Prof. Oladapo Folorunsho Asaju installed Prince Samson Adebanjo Ataiyero as the Baba Ijo of the church.
While accepting the title, Prince Ataiyero promised to immerse himself deeper into the service for the Lord and humanity.
He donated a sum of N10M to the Church for the completion of the ongoing Guest House and other needs.
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