The Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande, has advised widows and retiring public servants in the State to take advantage of Skill Acquisition Training to improve their sources of income for their families during this period of economic recession.

This advice was given at the Women Development Centre, Agege, Lagos, on Thursday at the closing ceremony of a Four Weeks short term skills acquisition training programme for widows and retiring public servants in the state.

The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Folasade Adesoye noted that the participants can broaden their knowledge for any other training they desire by taking advantage of the skills acquisition centres established by the State government spread across the Three Senatorial Districts of Lagos.

She enjoined the widows and retiring public servants to use the skills obtained to enhance their opportunity for multiple streams of income and to equip them towards financial stability and self reliant.

Mrs. Adesoye said the 4 week short term programme is well grounded and gives the participants the opportunity to choose vocations of their choice among those offered at the Centre which included balloon decoration, tie and dye, cake and snacks baking, hair weaving, beads stringing and hat making.

Over 250 retiring public servants and 600 widows benefited from the training programme which lasted 4 weeks with participants commending the State Government for empowering them with needed skills to earn extra income after retirement.

One of the beneficiaries, Alhaja Layeni, while giving her vote of thanks appreciated the administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for giving them another opportunity to learn a skill in other to augment their family finances after retirement.

In her words, “After my retirement, I intend to go into full business because having something doing after retirement will keep me busy and will also assist me for the first few months before getting my gratuity and benefit.”

•Photo shows a cross section of participants at the skills acquisition training programme for widows and retiring public servants in Lagos State.