The Oyo State government has challenged unemployed youths in the state to embrace entrepreneurship and vocational training to acquire skills to be job creators and employers of labour.

The publicity secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Michael Ogunsina, gave the challenge during the graduation ceremony of 100 youths in Integrated Waste Recycling and Manufacturing training on Friday in Ibadan.

Mr Ogunsina, who represented the government at the ceremony, said that entrepreneurship and acquisition of vocational skills would make them self-reliant.

The six-week training was an initiative of ‘Planet 3R Limited’ in Ibadan.

He also appealed to the youths in the state to change the narrative of being lazy, under the guise of unemployment, by rechanneling their efforts to learn any vocation of their choice.

Mr Ogunsina reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to youth development through various initiatives, such as skills acquisition programmes and promotion of entrepreneurship.

He said the present administration was committed to the support and growth of small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) by providing funds to boost economic activity, which in turn creates opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

The PDP publicity secretary commended ‘Plannet 3R Limited’ for the initiative, disclosing that the government had plans to implement policies to promote recycling, waste-to-wealth initiatives, and environmental education.

In her remarks, the manager, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Oyo State office, Iyabo Ojogbede, charged the trainees to maximise the knowledge gained.

Ms Ojogbede urged them to establish their own enterprises for the growth of small-scale businesses.

She assured them of govemment support through grants and access to soft loans, urging the trainees to be focused and committed.

The managing director, ‘Planet 3R Limited’, Adejoke Lasisi, said that the firm remains focused on creating a sustainable future where economic development and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.

“Our goal at ‘Planet 3R’ is to create a future where sustainability and social impact go hand in hand.

“Through partnerships with government and international partners, we are not only turning waste into resources, but also addressing critical needs in economic empowerment,” she stated.

Ms Lasisi also called on various sectors of the economy to rise to the challenge of setting up platforms to drive the recovery and recycling of waste items in the country.

The event witnessed an exhibition of locally made recycled products using plastic and nylon, waste textile materials, and used tyres, among others.

Among the locally made recycled products were bags of various sizes, footwear, car seat covers, mats and sofa pillows.

(NAN)