In a bid to further promote inclusive empowerment and sustainable livelihoods for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Ekiti State governor , Mr Biodun Oyebanji has flagged off an eight – month intensive training and empowerment programme for PWDs in six key vocations including Tailoring, Catering services, Shoe-making, Hairdressing, ICT and Soap-making that will give the beneficiaries sustainable sources of livelihood.
Disclosing this during the flag-off of Skills Acquisition/ Vocational Training for 100 PWDs at the Ekiti State Skills Acquisition Centre in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, said the training marks another significant milestone in the government’s on-going determinations to empower people with disabilities through innovation, skills acquisition, and economic opportunities in the drive to fully achieve the shared prosperity mantra of the administration.
The training programme was flagged off by the Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Tayo Adeola.
Princess Agboola reiterated the commitment of Governor Oyebanji at ensuring that no one is left behind in the drive towards ensuring that everyone lives a good life, stressing that the training goes beyond conventional training but something that will add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
While stressing that the training was a testament to the government’s belief that disability is not inability, the Special Adviser said the essence of imparting the necessary impetus required by the PWDs to achieve their dreams of living an economically viable lives devoid of reliance on anyone, is to position them to contribute to the economic development of Ekiti state.
Agboola, who also used the opportunity to thank Governor Oyebanji for his untiring commitment to the empowerment of PWDs, added that with the right support and access to opportunities, persons with disabilities can become key players in the state’s economy by creating jobs and building businesses aimed to transform lives and communities.
She also disclosed that the beneficiaries will receive stipends for the duration of the training while start-up kits will also be distributed to them after completion of the training.
“We are flagging off a new set of PWDs who will be participating in this year’s training as we all know that his Excellency, Governor Oyebanji is passionate about shared prosperity, shared prosperity in terms of empowering Ekiti citizens such that citizens are economically balanced and stable and that is what’s happening here particularly for persons with disabilities. So many times, people would see persons with disabilities as people who should be dependent on other people, His Excellency does not sees them that way, he sees them as people who can be empowered, who can contribute meaningfully to the economy of the states, so as a result, he mandated that we have to keep training them.
“And, you know, we tried with 30 people in 2023. It’s worked, 2024, worked, and 2025, we’re able to do 60 and this year, we are doing one hundred.
“We can actually maximize the full potential of this place and ensure we have more people coming for the training. So this year, we are training 100 people for eight months, in the past we were doing six months, they will do three months here and three months for apprenticeship, but for this year there’s a little switch here, they’ll be doing five months then they will complete the remaining with somebody who is a master in their skill. She stated.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries who were drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state, Miss Bunmi Afeniforo appreciated the governor for the programme which aimed to provide the platform for them to be self-employed reliant and sustainable
At the event were the Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Tayo Adeola; Special Adviser, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Dr John Ekundayo, Special Adviser BPP, Mr J.B Folorunso; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Also present at the event were the State Chairperson of Ekiti Hairdressing Association, Alhaji Mrs Bello; Chairman, Ekiti State Shoe Making Association, as well as Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants in the office of SESI.
Last modified: January 15, 2026
