Inner Wheel District 911, Centenary Chairman, Magdalene Adegoke, (middle) other Executives and Graduands of Catering and Pastry Dept. displaying their Industrial Ovens
“As a university graduate, I’ve been unemployed for many years, but today, I’ve been able to learn a skill free of charge, all thanks to Inner Wheel District 911, I can now take care of my family and also become an employer of labour”.
These were the words of Adeyinka Lucky, a beneficiary of Catering & Pastry vocational training which was organised by Inner Wheel District 911 for indigents in Ogun and Lagos States respectively.
Speaking at the Empowerment /Graduation ceremony of the 30 beneficiaries which was held at Inner Wheel Vocational Training Centre, Amuwo, Odofin, Lagos, the Golden Centenary Chairman, Inner Wheel District 911, Mrs Magdalene Adegoke, said it was the ninth graduating set from the vocational centre since it was established.
According to Adegoke, the scheme is aimed at building financial capacity and self empowerment for the indigents.
Inner Wheel Executives with Beneficiaries of Information Technology displaying their Laptops
Her words “It’s a Star project, I believe that if something is working, there is no point changing it. The aim is to train people so that they can feed themselves and their family members. and so far we have empowered so many of them.” she said.
Speaking further, “The situation in the country is really bad, things are very hard. We’ve trained these people and it’s time for them to go earn a living for themselves, these are skills that they can make daily money, this will go a long way in alleviating sufferings from their lives” said Adegoke.
Adegoke however charge beneficiaries to make good use of these opportunities.
She said “Don’t sell the equipments, the goal is for you to start making money with it. With the Industrial Ovens, you can start baking cakes, confectioneries, you can earn a living and make life better for yourselves”, said Adegoke.
Beneficiaries were trained in skills such as Fashion designing ; Information technology, Catering & Pastry, Make Up Artistry and Head Style; Event Planning, among others.
According to Adegoke, govt. alone cannot do it, ‘that’s why we have Charity organisations like ours, the International Inner Wheel, we are part of the Rotary family. What we do is that we source for money, get people that are not as privileged as ourselves, train them by learning a trade, (a skill) so that they can be independent and be able to provide for themselves and their families.
She pointed out that there are lots of trainings ongoing at the Club levels. The trainings at both levels has started since July : training people, giving microcredit loans to people to boost their business, thereby making their lives better. “It’s a continuous project, and after this we are going to empower widows” Adegoke said.
The training, Adegoke pointed out is a continuous thing as beneficiaries need to keep improving on what they’ve learnt, by developing themselves.
“Keep learning, improving and developing yourself so that you can be better at what you do”.
Speaking about the significance of the project, Past District Chairman/ Chairman, Vocational Training and Empowerment Committee, IWM Kafilat Afodu, stated that the Project is for the less privileged.
“We’ve been doing this for about 4 consecutive years as a star project. We do train 30 people both male and female, no segregation. The training had always been free and will continue to be free for beneficiaries’ said Afodu.
On criteria for selecting beneficiaries, she revealed is at the discretion of Inner Wheel Clubs in Lagos and Ogun State.
‘We have Inner Wheel Clubs in Lagos and Ogun State. Hence, the Clubs in their areas of jurisdiction will look for indigent people in their community and recommend and sponsor them for the training.
Afodu, who believes in a better Nigeria said that Govt cannot do everything, urge well meaning Nigerians to also empower others.
“As individuals, we must rise up to the occasion by lending a helping hand to our neighbours”, said Afodu.
Afodu charged beneficiaries to be diligent with their vocations. The club has been involved in community transformation exercise over the years with different projects as a service organization, just like other philanthropic groups and have been extolled by beneficiaries.
On her part, the National representative/President national governing body of Inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria, Mrs Zainab Ikheloa, said the main objective of the training was to alleviate poverty and bring succour to indigent people, especially women.
“We equally wanted them to be able to generate income, create safe spaces in their homes, and to increase the capacity of unemployed women and ensure they have a means of livelihood,” she said.
With the knowledge acquired at the training, Ikheloa task beneficiaries to apply it in their various vocations.
Though it was a vigorous 10 weeks of intense learning but it was worth it as participants would be able to fulfill their financial obligations, provide daily bread and school expenses of their children.”
“Inner Wheel District 911 is trying to reduce unemployment within the community, which will reduce insecurity thereby leading to a better and greater society,” said Ikheloa.
Orekoya Elizabeth, another beneficiary, said her joy knew no bounds when she made her first dress. “The training was free and rigorous as our facilitators were hospitable, they ensured we got the skills. I can now earn a living and will be able to raise money for my UTME exam,” she disclosed.
The club donated a total of eight ovens, 12 sewing machines, six make- up artistry kits, four laptops to the 30 people, who participated in the training exercise.
