Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu cutting the tape to inaugurate the Women Development Centre, Igede-Ekiti. With her from left are the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr. Tajudeen Awe, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Ronke Okusanya, wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola-Richie Adeusi, (3rd right) and the Onigede of Igede-Ekiti, Oba James Adeleye Aladesuru (extreme right)
Apparently to widen the scope of its gender empowerment programme, the Ekiti State Government yesterday inaugurated the Women Development Centre, in Igede-Ekiti, headquarters of the Irepodun /Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The renovation of the multi-purpose skill acquisition centre was driven by the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF) and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Gender Empowerment.
Its inauguration, which is part of the programmes marking the third year anniversary of the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration, coincided with the 50th birthday anniversary of the wife of Ekiti state governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, who doubles as the EDF founder and chair.
Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu, who inaugurated the project, described the centre as a legacy that will out-live the Fayemi administration. She urged women from all the 16 council areas of the state to take advantage of the multi-purpose centre.
According to her, the skills acquired from the centre will not only equip women economically but politically.
“Women are not supposed to be tails to their husbands but helpmates,” she told her audience.
She said the inauguration has ended skepticism on whether the centre which had been abandoned by successive administrations since former governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo left office in 2003.
Also speaking, Mrs. Fayemi said the rehabilitation of the centre was spurred by a promise that was made during the electioneering campaign to accord women empowerment priority if voted into power.
Mrs Fayemi urged women to disabuse their minds that the centre was built only for dropouts, saying that it will be open to working-class graduates who may desire vocation skills.
She noted that the centre was not only for women in the host community- Igede-Ekiti, but for women from across the state to sharpen their vocational skills in textile design, photography, weaving, tie and dye and tourism among others.
In her earlier remarks, Women Affairs & Gender Empowerment Commissioners, Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi, noted that the transformation of the centre to a modern and befitting edifice for skill acquisition was as a result of the passion demonstrated by the EDF chair.
According to her, the vision of the Fayemi administration was to make the centre a formidable platform for the training of young women and out-of-school girls on how to harness their potentials and contribute their quota to the society.
She listed hotel management, secretariat studies, textile technology, computer studies, hairdressing and fashion designing as areas where applicants can sharpen their skills.
Besides, the commissioner noted that trainees will have the opportunity of writing government-approved trade tests and external examinations supervised by bodies like the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Board for Technical Examination Council (NABTEC).
Last modified: October 10, 2013
