Rotary, First Bank Partner To Empower 132 Beneficiaries With Vocational Skills

Rotary International District 9111 in partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited is set to empower 132 beneficiaries with start-up kits across various trades.

The event coming up on February 11, 2025 in Lagos will have beneficiaries getting start-up kits; grinding machines, plumbing kits, deep freezers, sewing machines, generators, gas burners and cylinders, barbers and hairdressers, kits, amongst others.

Governor of Rotary International District 9111 District, Dr. Wole Kukoyi spoke on the significance of economic empowerment in Rotary’s initiatives, calling for government collaboration to reach the vulnerable groups in our various communities as a means of poverty reduction in ways that are effective and efficient.

Kukoyi stated that, “Rotary’s Empowerment Initiative complements government efforts and stresses the need for recognition and partnership to enhance community development.

“We know that the government alone cannot eradicate poverty completely and also achieve meaningful youth empowerment, hence our resolve to carry out these programs to complement the government’s efforts.”

“So, we expect the government to recognize Rotary for what it does, and then partner with us accordingly following the type of cooperation we have with First Bank of Nigeria Limited,” he said.

Rotary International District 9111 District governor nominee and project coordinator, Bukola Bakare added that “ all the start-up kits are free for the 132 beneficiaries and First Bank of Nigeria Limited is the major sponsor for the project”.

She added that “the 132 beneficiaries were chosen based on needs analysis from Igbos, Hausa and Yorubas residents in Lagos and Ogun states.

“First Bank is our major supporter for this program, we have a 10-year Community Empowerment plan, which is supported by First Bank as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility program.”

Recall that last year, 102 beneficiaries were empowered. The director of Lagos State Agency for Mass Education, Kemi Kalesanwo confirmed that 22 out of the 102 beneficiaries were from the agency’s vocational training centers.

Kalesanwo said that the state government believed in public, private partnerships (PPP) and was happy with the collaboration between Rotary and First Bank.

She listed projects donated by Rotary to include the construction of one of the eight vocational training centers, owned by the agency in the Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

During the presentation exercise last year, permanent board member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Babatunde Adewale lauded the empowerment program while reeling out contributions and projects of Rotary International to schools in the state.

He urged other corporate organisations, government, public-spirited individuals, and philanthropists to emulate First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Rotary International’s empowerment initiatives.