By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Fortune has shone on over 150 artisans in Edo State as Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Foundation gave them grant to enhance their works.
The artisans include tailors, shoe makers, welders, computer shop owners and others.
Speaking at the event in Benin, founder, Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Foundation, Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, said that he has realized that the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of creating jobs for over two hundred million Nigerians, therefore, the private individuals have to come in.
“The Dr. Paddy Foundation has been in existence since 2017. And every year, we have this empowerment programme where we empower young people who don’t have the required funding to start their business or require funding to boost their business as it were.
“And the one we are doing this year is still the same thing geared towards empowering young people and supporting them because the government cannot do it alone.
“We are just contributing our own quarter because we feel that when one is being enabled by God, he has to give back in fulfilling the scripture and also in making the world around you a better place”, Iyamu said.
Commending the donor, Erio Progress, one of beneficiaries, said she is going to invest the money into her computer business.
“This grant will enable me buy a new printer. That is what I majorly needed it for. It will help me buy a new printer so that I can advance my job”, Progress said.
Another beneficiary, Mowete Victoria who is into shoe making, described the gesture as a rare one. She thanked the donor for coming to her aid.
Also lauding the foundation, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, said the government cannot cater for its citizens alone but needs the help of private individuals to help reduce the level of unemployment in the country.
“When companies, agencies come together unanimously and save this country and the young people, the country will be a better country for all of us. This is what we are seeing today. That we have a single man and not even an organization, a single man that is coming together to provide what I called a start up for the youths, it is a welcome development.
“This is a start up to encourage the youth and we believe that this is going to go a long way for those, importantly for those in the grassroots. This is the partnership we are clamouring for. We want to hit the road and empower the young people and no matter what they are, they can also provide for themselves. I am grateful that we have this kind of idea and I will implore a lot of private individuals to allow us to come together and do this and make a way for ourselves”, Olawande added.
For the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, who also commended the initiative of the foundation, made a donation of N10 million to support 10 artisans.
Earlier, the guest speaker, Dr. Linus Okorie, urged the youths to seek after knowledge, have the right attitude, an action mindset, skills and the right habits adding that, that these are the things that will make them successful in life.
Guest artiste, Timi Dakolo and other comedians like Maleke Idowu, MC Casino and others were on ground to spicing up the event.
