The Lagos State Government has expanded its youth and community empowerment programme with vocational training in bread and pastries production, equipping residents with practical skills and starter tools to promote self-employment and economic independence.
The initiative, organised by the Office of Rural Development through the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD), was held at the Lafiaji Community Centre in Obalende, Lagos Island, as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to create sustainable livelihoods across its five divisions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Kehinde Adebayo, participants received intensive practical training and were presented with production equipment to enable them establish and grow their own businesses.
Speaking at the programme, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Dr. Nurudeen Agbaje, said the initiative reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a 21st-century economy through human capital development and grassroots economic empowerment.
Agbaje explained that the administration’s development agenda extends beyond skills acquisition to the provision of rural infrastructure, including feeder roads, electrification and potable water, which have helped stimulate the growth of micro and small-scale enterprises across the state.
“Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to empowering communities is anchored on his vision of making Lagos State a 21st Century Economy. Over the past seven years, the government’s investments in empowerment and infrastructure development have contributed significantly to reducing rural-urban migration by creating sustainable economic opportunities within local communities,” Adebayo quoted Agbaje as saying.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, urged participants to maximise the opportunity, describing the training as a pathway to improved livelihoods and long-term financial stability.
Bolarinwa reaffirmed the state’s commitment to creating opportunities that would enhance the welfare of residents and support inclusive socio-economic development.
Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Rural Development, Mr. Musibau Balogun, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for sustaining empowerment initiatives that continue to impact communities positively.
He encouraged beneficiaries to apply the knowledge acquired during the training and make productive use of the equipment provided to establish viable businesses.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Adegbite Oshodi expressed appreciation to the state government for the intervention, describing it as timely amid prevailing economic challenges.
“Beneficiaries are grateful for the opportunity and will make effective use of the equipment provided to improve our livelihoods while contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Lagos State,” Adebayo quoted Oshodi as saying.
According to the statement, the bread and pastries training forms part of a series of empowerment programmes being implemented by the Centre for Rural Development to promote entrepreneurship, enhance household incomes and improve the quality of life of residents across Lagos State.
