WETVI graduates 33 on vocational study

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

The first set of thirty three students have graduated at the maiden graduation ceremony of Wessy Tailoring and Vocational Institute (WETVI), held at the institute on Friday.

The graduation ceremony which drew dignitaries across the state had in attendance Engr. Abiodun Fijabi, former House of Representatives member; Hon. Adeyemi Dapo, represented Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Peter Fagbohun, represented the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and host of others.

Delivering his speech during the graduation and ground breaking ceremony at the Institute in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, the founder, Otunba Wasiu Taiwo, remarked that the number was an attestation to the fact that the Institute has remained focused, and making progress in the achievement of desired goals.

Otunba Taiwo hinted: “The goals which are towards addressing the menace of youth unemployment; engendering the spirit of excellence in service delivery; reforming the fashion industry and paving the way for fashion industry to become a foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.

“The demands for our products have been impressive. This is very encouraging and it shows that there is a tremendous hope of harnessing the people’s potentials for optimal use as a foreign exchange earnings.

“As the National President of Tailors in Nigeria, I am more determined to discover young talents in the profession, train available talents to achieve their potentials in life, introduce modern technology and skills into the business and ensure that the nation benefit from the industry’s potentials particularly in the area of employment generation and foreign exchange earnings.

“I therefore call on the state government, corporate bodies, government agencies such as ITF, men and women of goodwill, religion organizations to reach us by sponsoring these indigents talented youths for a better tomorrow and more secured society in skill acquisition.

“The sky as our limit, the businesses we ventured into have it’s numerous problems such as lack of competent technical manpower in the country. We have to employ expatriates and they earn in dollars.

“Investment without the support and patronage of government and corporate bodies, may be difficult to achieve our goals and lack of enabling business environment is another challenge.”

Moreover, the Institute’s Director of Studies, Mrs. Temitope Alade, in her speech called on government to give enough platform for vocational and technical education.

“It has been said in many fora and on many platforms that no nation can develop without giving vocational and technical education its rightful place because it constitutes a vital engine for the economy, social, practical and all round development of any nation, especially, Nigeria.

“If Nigeria must join the league of developed nations, then she must begin to promote technical and vocational education which has a great role to play in its socio-econmoic development,” she expressed.

In another development, Olootu Ogooluwa Bankole, founder, Mercyland Group of Schools, called for implementation of vocational and technical education in our schools. “It will give them opportunity to be gainfully employed after graduation from school.”

Also, Chief (Mrs) Iyabo Maltida Apampa, stated that something must be done about the curriculum of education, adding that parents should bring their graduates to the institute that there is no available job anywhere again.

Furthermore, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle admonished the graduands not to be ashamed of people calling them tailors, but should be more focused in whatever they are doing.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of various awards to six graduating students ably performed by former Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa.

Also, Olootu Balogun, in his magnanimity gave the sum of N10,000 each to three best outstanding students, while Chief (Mrs) Apampa promised to sponsor any two people (male and female) ready to go to Wessy Tailoring and Vocational Institute.