60th birthday celebrations : Tunde Lemo set to launch empowerment programme for Nigerian youths

Ahead of his 60th Birthday Anniversary in December, 2019,  foremost financial expert and Egba-born philanthropist, Reverend Tunde Lemo will launch an empowerment initiative for the Nigerian youths 
OgunToday reports that the programme is tagged,  “LEND A HELPING HAND”.

Lemo, who spoke in a statement through his Communication Adviser,  Eddy Ademosu,  noted that  the empowerment scheme was  an intervention programme aimed at equipping interested unemployed youths, graduates and non graduates with vocational skills that would either enhance their employability or prepare them for self employment. 

Lemo, the Chairman, Board of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and, a former Deputy-Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the initiative was borne out of the staggering unemployment rate (36.5%) among the Nigerian youths which constituted a very serious socio-economic problem in the country. 

And to realise the initiative, “We have identified three reputable vocational institutions with proven track records for training programmes and they are mainly: Peter Akinola Foundation Youth Centre for Industrial Training, Abeokuta;Auto medics, Ilupeju Bye-pass, Lagos and Etiwa Nigeria Limited, Lekki.

“These institutions have over time, proven track records in the training and development of youths and in many cases assist in the employment of their graduates,” Lemo said.
Lemo hinted that the programme would initially cover specific disciplines in auto mechanics, masonry and other construction skills; agriculture, catering, fashion designing and, will also include enhancing the youths’ Information Technology capabilities which would accommodate a minimum of 100 eligible youths per annum at the estimated cost of N25 million.
“In the estimation of the promoter of the initiative, the programme would run for an initial period of 5 years (2020 – 2024) with a total estimated cost of  N125 Million. 
“And with a firm commitment to the success of the initiative, the celebrant and his family have offered to provide 20% of the funding, which translates to N25 Million. 
“We are hoping to raise partners who will commit to participate in the program in different highlighted  categories of  Platinum, Gold and Silver with stratified numbers of youths’ sponsorship”, Lemo explained.
He further clarified that the programme “provides opportunities for other donors willing to assist but who are unable to participate at the partners’ categories to indicate level of donations either as one-off or annual commitment”.
Reverend Lemo stated that all contributions would be accounted for; reports provided annually and,  distributed to all our Partners and Donors appropriately, indicating that all donations are to be made directly to beneficiaries through the payment of School Fees to the participating institutions.
“All  administration and associated costs of running the initiative are to be borne by the the celebrant and the family”, Lemo concluded.
OgunToday reports that Tunde Lemo was born on Monday, December 28, 1959 at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State.