Rotary Club of Gbagada has just beautified Agege Vocational Centre on Ipaja road in Agege, Lagos with the just completed renovation of the entire vocational centre facility by the club.
The club also established a music room, toilet and water borehole facility at the centre. A well-equipped creche facility was also established by the club to assist beneficiaries of the centre who are nursing mothers, with a comfortable and decent place to keep their babies while they attend classes.
The newly renovated centre was officially commissioned by the District Governor, Kola Sodipo who is also a member of the club, alongside the club president, Dr Basirat Giwa on Thursday, March 7, 2019.
Also present was the Director, Lagos State Agency for Mass Education, Mrs Oluwakemi Kalesanwo; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr Shamsideen Allison who represented the Special Adviser; Alayige of Orile Agege, Oba Ambaliu Hakeem Agbedeyi, as well as Honourable Akanni Pedro, Vice Chairman of Orile Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) who represented the Executive Chairman of the LCDA.
“I also saw nursing mothers with their babies but there was no place where the babies can be kept safely while their mothers attend classes so I suggested establishing a creche facility in the school in addition to the music, water, and toilet facilities. That was how we ended up creating a room for crèche and equipping it", President Giwa.
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In her welcome address, Dr Giwa narrated how the project came into existence. “As usual, we approached the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education during our needs assessment, they led us to this vocational school and the Director however requested for a music facility which the school lacked”, she said.
“We actually came here to establish a music class with musical instruments but we ended up renovating the entire building both in and out. Upon our arrival here, we also discovered that there was no source of water and a proper toilet so we had to provide them with a water borehole facility and a block of toilets”, she further said.
“I also saw nursing mothers with their babies but there was no place where the babies can be kept safely while their mothers attend classes so I suggested establishing a creche facility in the school in addition to the music, water, and toilet facilities. That was how we ended up creating a room for crèche and equipping it.
“With this project, we have fulfilled three basic areas of focus in Rotary which are basic education and literacy, water and sanitation, as well as maternal and child health”, she added.
DG Sodipo, while delivering his address stated, “Like the club president has rightly noted, we have fulfilled three out of Rotary’s six areas of focus, the others being peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, and economic and community development.
Speaking further, the DG said, “When we talk of economic and community development, this project also indirectly falls under this because when the students graduate in nine months’ time, they will certainly require startup funds to practice what they have acquired from this centre and that is the area where empowerment comes in. At the end of the day, we would have intervened in four areas of focus.
“I can also add conveniently that when you have an environment that is clean and suitable for learning, infections and diseases will be prevented so we have added the fifth area of focus. More importantly, if you are in an environment where you are not being disturbed, you mind your own business, earn a living, and also develop and improve your skills, there will be peace and once there is peace, then we will be able to say that we have also focused on peace and conflict prevent”, he said.
“By and large, with this little gift we are giving to the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education, we have been able to focus on various areas that will not only enhance life but also transfer skills that will be useful for the students that will benefit from it”, said DG Sodipo.
Dr Allison also expressed gratitude to the club. “I thank the club for providing this opportunity for residents of Orile Agege LCDA and its environs in vocational education. This, I believe will make the citizens self-reliant and empower them economically. This initiative is in line with the interest of the Lagos State government which emphasizes Lagos partnering with private organizations.
“Am therefore proud to be associated with this initiative. I have no doubt that this vocational centre with upscale and integrate trainees in labour market and help them to be self employed by providing high quality vocational skills and most importantly, the graduates of this centre will be certificated and have access to Lagos state empowerment trust fund, said Dr Allison.
“On the part of the state government, the office of the Special Adviser on Education through Agency for Mass Education will efeectively ensure adequate supervision of the centre, sustain the collaboration with other Rotary clubs. I assure Rotarians of regular payment of instructors, as well as regular provision of equipment for each trade”, he noted.
The Permanent Secretary further said, “Let me sincerely appreciate members of Rotary Club of Gbagada ably led by Dr Basirat Giwa for having the interest of youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and by deeming it fit to renovate one of the vocational centres being managed by the agency.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Grace who spoke on behalf of the other beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude to the club saying, “We are the lucky set of students that came while this place is being renovated. We promise to put this place into good use, we will not disappoint you.”