Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Dada, has challenged trainees of the various Skills Acquisition Centres owned by the State Government to exhibit creative measures that are at par with the international standards for consumerism.
The Commissioner gave the charge during the celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Day, themed “2021: Year of Creative Economy”, held on Wednesday at the Skills Acquisition Centre, Berger, Isheri, to showcase the inventiveness of the Government's trainees.
She maintained that today's society has proven that it is not enough to learn a skill alone, but to learn one that is more beneficial and can enhance individual innovativeness and creativity.
Dada recalled that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic last year crippled both business and human capital, due to restrictions introduced to contain its spread, making it imperative for members of the informal sector to explore more ingenious and enduring ways of attaining sustainable development.
She said, “At WAPA, we are responsive to the needs of women in the State and can adjust positively to different situations. Hence, we do not only train our students but we also encourage and nurture them to become professionals in their fields of study”.
Explaining that the event would expose the beneficiaries to opportunities that abound in the emerging digital economy, Dada urged the trainees to take full advantage of the programme by embracing creative and innovative solutions in business.
Specifically, the Commissioner advised the young entrepreneurs to leverage the platform provided by social media to promote and market their vocations, stressing that the growth of technology has enabled more home-grown business enterprises and online business activities in the digital space.
Her words: “Considering the current economic situation, entrepreneurship has taken a dynamic turn. It is now in the sphere of creativity and innovative momentum, where economic growth and job creation tilts to consistency and innovativeness”.
“The objective of this programme is to encourage our students to awaken their uniqueness by creatively developing their skills to provide excellent services for their prospective customers, even as they establish such businesses on a higher scale”.
Speaking on the plans of the Ministry, the Commissioner informed that WAPA is presently seeking more avenues to engage women across the State in the new normal era, adding that it would create additional skills to existing ones, so that more women can benefit from such numerous training programmes.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, said that the event was conceived as a way of celebrating creativity and innovation amongst students of the various skills centres, while reiterating how it can affect economic development.
She said that although creativity was not taught, however, it is the innate value that determines how much entrepreneurs can make from their handworks because individuals are always willing to pay more for qualitative products.
Also speaking at the event, a member of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, LASUBEB, Mr. Dayo Israel, advised participants to be determined and diligent to make changes in their respective localities, regardless of their upbringing or societal background.
Citing himself as a case study of resilience and determination, the educationist said that with focus and a sense of purpose, there is nothing that cannot be achieved.
The highlight of the occasion was the hairstyling competition by contestants across the 18 skills acquisition centres and the display of an array of products by trainees who graduated from the establishment.
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