The Oke-Ado High School Ibadan Old Student Association (OHSIOSA), led by its President, Otunba Adekunle Kalejaiye, has concluded a skills acquisition and empowerment programme aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and economic independence among members.
The programme culminated in a graduation ceremony on October 8 at the multipurpose hall of Oke-Ado High School, Ibadan. It covered paint production, event planning and decoration, the Akube (second-hand clothing) business, and poultry management and marketing, equipping participants with practical and entrepreneurial skills to establish sustainable businesses.
Addressing participants, Kalejaiye said the initiative followed a proposal by the association’s Welfare Committee earlier in the year to expand empowerment opportunities for members. He described it as a bold step towards strengthening alumni welfare and assured members that it would become an annual programme, with more vocational areas and beneficiaries in subsequent editions.
He added that the initiative extended beyond training, as participants would receive starter packs funded with millions of naira in total to help them launch their businesses.
The Welfare Committee Chairperson, Bolanle Animashaun, and National Welfare Officer, Qasim Abdulhammed LAMCAS, spearheaded the programme, which began in June. Applicants underwent intensive training, mentoring, and assessment before qualifying for graduation and business support.
Speaking for the beneficiaries, Julie Akpoyibo, a member of the Event Planning and Decoration group, thanked the OHSIOSA Executive Committee for implementing the programme. She described the training as a rewarding experience that provided practical knowledge, confidence, and renewed belief in the participants’ ability to build successful businesses.
Akpoyibo said the initiative was an investment in the beneficiaries’ dreams, skills, and future, opening opportunities for sustainable income and financial independence. She commended the EXCO’s vision, commitment, and sacrifice, noting that an intervention of such magnitude required substantial planning, coordination, and resources.
“Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for giving us a chance. Thank you for investing in us,” she said.
She observed that, amid difficult economic conditions, the association’s decision to invest directly in members’ productive capacity deserved commendation. The skills acquired, she added, would remain valuable assets for entrepreneurship, career development, and long-term economic sustainability.
The programme reflects OHSIOSA’s commitment to members’ welfare through practical skills development and entrepreneurship initiatives. With the planned distribution of starter packs and the president’s assurance of annual editions, it is positioned to help alumni pursue self-employment and productive economic activities.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen bonds among members and demonstrate how alumni associations can contribute to their members’ economic advancement. As graduates apply their new skills, expectations are high that the programme will improve livelihoods, produce sustainable businesses, and establish a lasting legacy of empowerment within OHSIOSA.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
