By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Under the bright morning sun in Ado Ekiti, the bustling energy of eager participants filled the training halls. It was another impactful day in the Entrepreneurship
Development Training (EDT) sponsored by Senator (Dr.) Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, CON, the Senate Leader of Nigeria. The initiative, designed to uplift and empower 1,900 participants, had men and women from across the five Local Government Areas of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.
From tailoring workshops to confectionery classes, the atmosphere buzzed with creativity and ambition. Young women meticulously learned the art of makeup, their brushes moving with precision. At another corner, the leatherworks session saw skilled hands crafting shoes and handbags with keen focus. Hairdressing stations brimmed with excitement as trainers demonstrated new styling techniques, while fashion designing trainees sketched patterns that could one day grace major runways.
In the agricultural value chain section where participants learned modern farming techniques and how to maximize profits from their produce. Meanwhile, those in the confectionery class experimented with recipes, perfecting pastries and snacks that could soon become household favorites.
The training wasn’t just about skill acquisition, it was about economic empowerment. Senator Bamidele’s initiative provided resources, mentorship, and startup kits, ensuring participants could turn their skills into profitable ventures. The joy on their faces was evident; this was more than a training program because it was a pathway to self-sufficiency.
As the program continued, the impact grew daily. Families saw new hope, businesses were born, and the local economy flourished. Senator Bamidele’s vision of an economically empowered Ekiti was becoming a reality.