OBA OF LAGOS JOINS GOVERNOR BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA TO LAUNCH KESINGTON ADEBUKUNOLA ADEBUTU VOCATIONAL CENTRE.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012Omoba

Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola and Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu

Dignitaries across the state came together to witness the official commissioning of the Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation Vocational centre on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

The event which was put together by Chairman/Founder of KAAF, Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, held at the KAAF vocational centre and was graced by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) who was the special guest of honour along with the Oba of Lagos, HRH Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

Other guests included top government personalities, policy influencers and opinion moulders across different sectors. Notable figures include Lagos State Honourable Commissioner for Education, Barrister Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Chairman, Surulere Local Government Honorable Tajudeen Yusuf Ajide, CEO, R28 Events Adebisi Adebutu, Executive Secretary, LASFE, Engineer Olawunmi Gasper, AY the Comedian who was the Host of the event and several others.

Eng Olawunmi Gasper

Starting with the National Anthem, Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, founder and chairman of KAAF appreciated the presence of everyone in attendance. He also spoke on his passion for helping the underprivileged in the society so as to develop youth potentials and reduce the rate of crime in the society.

“I want to commend all those who took part in the success of this project. With the completion of this project, we shall not just stop here but continue to show support to other societies and focus on our other projects that we are currently working on. I wish the new trainees success in their different trades.”

“This is a good step in the development of our society because instead of giving our generation fish, we are teaching them how to fish!”

Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola

Facilities in the Vocational centre

Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu

Sir Kesington and wife, Oba of Lagos, Mr Adebutu and KAAF Vocational centre instructors

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu commended Sir Kesington Adebutu on his continuous goodwill and selflessness to the society.

He continues,

“I want to appeal to the elites in our society to come out and help in the development of our environment.”

The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola later commissioned the vocational centre after a tour of the facility. “I am delighted that custodians of our culture have decided to work towards the development of our society. People complain about our lack of skills in this country as Ghanaians and the Togolese have taken up our very own trades. Sir Kesington has taken it upon himself to help change our society by empowering our youths. For this, I congratulate him’’ Fashola said.

“The Lagos state Government through various vocational centres has trained over 35, 000 trainees in different skills and they now run their own businesses. If we continue this struggle of keeping youths off the streets, we can then extend it to other states across the country” he concludes.

The centre focuses on four major trades approved by the Ministry of Education/Lagos State Technical and Vocational Training board.

These trade courses are: Electrical works, Masonry and Tiling, Plumbing and Carpentry.

Trainees have the opportunity to run the courses free of charge and work with state of the art facilities and tools. The courses, which will run for six months, will have two sessions in a year.

Founder of KAAF, Sir Kesington Adebutu will also be sponsoring the trainees for the Lagos State Trade Test professional exams.

Sukanmi Oyebola and Adebisi Adebutu

The vocational centre will be handed over to the Lagos State government after one year for further management.

Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation Centre was established by Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu in October, 2005 as part of his efforts to alleviate poverty and empower youths by training them to acquire entrepreneurial skills for self development, create job opportunities and make them future employers of labour.