Dr Olonisakin Pledges Commitment To The Less Privileged As DEPOWA Flags Off Empowerment Programme

Dr Olonisakin Pledges Commitment To The Less Privileged As DEPOWA Flags Off Empowerment Programme

The President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Dr (Mrs) Omobolanle Olonisakin has again reiterated the commitment of the organization towards addressing the plight of the less privileged in the society. Dr Olonisakin made this known on Tuesday, while inaugurating DEPOWA empowerment programme for unemployed women, youth and widows in Ode- Ekiti and its environs.

According to her, “we are committed to providing necessary sucour to our teaming populace, especially the less privileged in our society.’’ She also said the Association was “ responsively complimenting the welfare programmes of the Armed Forces and Police for barracks and surrounding communities.”

Speaking on the empowerment programme titled; “Be the Change,” Dr Olonisakin said aside poverty alleviation , the skills acqusition training organized by DEPOWA for Ekiti indigenes and its neighbouring states, would as well provide jobs for the unemployed populace and ultimately promote socio- economic development of the state. This she noted, is “DEPOWA’s own little way towards effecting positive change.”

The DEPOWA President urged the trainees to take every aspect of the training seriously, adding, that the knowledge gained will enable them become economically independent, as well as catapult them out of the labour market into gainful employment.

She informed that last year’s DEPOWA empowerment programmes in Ekiti and Ibadan were largely successful, disclosing that most of the beneficiaries are now small scale business entrepreneurs and employers of labour. She further revealed that some of the previous beneficiaries were part of the resource persons in the DEPOWA training team who are currently imparting acquisition skills to the new set of trainees.

Shortly after the inauguration, the DEPOWA President and her entourage inspected a cross section of the ongoing vocational training, which includes cosmetic production, tile installation, beads stringing, bag making, facial make-up and gele tying. Others are barbing, grinding machine operation, as well as fabric tie and dye.

The two weeks vocational training is being conducted without any cost on the beneficiaries. At the end of the training, DEPOWA will issue free starter packs to successful graduands to enable them set up their enterprises.