The Past Vice President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, who is also the Managing Director, Protogy Global, Engineer Ademola Agoro, says Ademola Isaac Agoro Engineering Empowerment Foundation was established to support Nigerians and make them self sufficient.
Engr Agoro disclosed this at the launching of the foundation held at the foundation office, Ijebu Jesha, Ilesha road, Osun state.
He said the motive behind it is empowerment, to be able to help people, just like the way it is, so that people can learn and live an independent life.
While speaking about the foundation edifice built, which was also commissioned, he said the building would be used like a vocational study centre.
“We would bring people together, we would teach them something that they can learn and they can use to earn a living, that’s the essence.
Commenting on the cost of the project, Agoro said ” To be honest, it is very difficult to say this is how much I have spent, because as I said, it is part of the CSR of the Protogy Global that is funding the foundation just to be able to, out of what God has given to us to be able to give to people and be able to help people, that’s what we are doing
“It is difficult. That’s just the truth. It is difficult.’
“The truth is that it is very difficult, when I say it is very difficult, it is very difficult, in fact I don’t keep track, I don’t keep track of the amount of money and everything I spend.’
While advising youth in the country, he stated that there is no shortcut in life, adding that everything that is a shortcut would lead to destruction.
“So it’s just principle. There’s always a time for seed. There’s a time for plant and harvest, so anything that you jump to, you should be very careful.
” So I would advise them to look at what they can use their hand to do and see how they can do it well and consistently, God will bless them and they will get to wherever they want to get to.”
Also speaking, a former member of the House of Reps, Honourable Nathaniel Agunbiade, stated that government alone cannot cater for the citizens hence the need for individuals and organisations to support government efforts.
He said Engineer Ademola Agoro, through his foundation, has been very supportive in assisting the people of the local government, and Obokun Local Government, as well as those around the area to join hand with government in bringing skill acquisition to the entire populace.
‘Earlier on, we have been at Ijebu-jesa to commission his foundation house, which meant essentially for training of artisans and what have you. People will come to that place, not only to train, they will train free of charge, they will be accommodated without paying a penny and this is born out of the fact that, we realized that government cannot do this thing alone.
“The first one he did in this town was the establishment of a primary school, where your kids come into that school without paying a penny, free books, free uniform, and free feeding.
“They also have what I will call a college of technical vocation, that one is also in this town. So what we did was just to make his presence felt at the local government headquarters of the local government at Ijebu-jesa.
“In essence, that is what we are doing today and by way of felicitating with our people at this period, which is the Easter period, he has brought some food items to be distributed to our people and by and large that is what we are doing and we are all proud of him.’
In his message at the event, the Elerinmo of Erinmo Ijesha, Oba Dr. Michael Odunayo Ajayi, Arowotawaya, the 2nd stated that it is important for beneficiaries to make good use of all the facilities as well as opportunities granted them.
‘Essentially, there has been a lot of money spent on empowerment all over Nigeria, but we have found situations whereby people are empowered, given machineries to use, to improve their business, but rather than do that, they have turned this around and sold them, thinking that money, having cash was more important.
“It is important that people know that being taught how to fish is better than just being given fish. Our people should stop waiting for handouts all the time. They should rather look for opportunities to be trained in their area of interest and their area of vocation for them to do.’
‘When somebody wants to say he’s doing investment, you put a hundred thousand naira down somewhere and then you expect to get two hundred and fifty thousand in two weeks, that is criminal, that is not investment, that is like playing lottery and that’s why you’ll find out that there are many instances people get involved in ponzi schemes, like has happened recently and you know they lost their investment. I would advise, when people have money like this, why don’t you acquire some little machinery and start some little work, and God can then bless the handwork. So this is my advice to everybody.’
The monarch expressed the belief that God blesses people so as to impact on others like Engr Ademola Agoro has done.
“So I would like to thank Engineer Isaac Agoro of Erinmoland, for his efforts to boost the livelihood of the people, for his support for youths, to improve their welfare and for the opportunity for training, being an engineer believing that people must know something, if you are not trained, there is no way you can do much in the future.’
‘So yes we thank him and I support this initiative and I also encourage other people like him all over the world, all over Nigeria, to please look back and at least pull up somebody, have people you can give scholarships to, have people you can train in all these ramifications.’
For the launching of the Agoro Empowerment Foundation, the foundation will be training at least 25 people.
And that the training will be technical and will include accomodations and feeding during the training.
At the event, some widows and people living with various forms of disability were giving cash prizes while empowerment tools, which include vulcanising machines,generating sets, sowing machines, grinding machines as well as welding machines were also distributed.
