One hundred and twenty residents of Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency Two, Lagos, were on Sunday exposed to modern techniques in fish and animal farming, facilitated by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Ganiyu Johnson.
Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, had promised the people phased interventions that would improve their economic conditions.
The Nation reports that at the event held on Ago Palace Way, Okota, in collaboration with the Federal College of Horticulture, Daddin- Kowa, Gombe State, Johnson also gave each of the participants N50,000 start-up capital.
He said the programme was aimed at equipping participants with technical skills in fish farming and animal husbandry; developing productive capacity for wealth creation; helping them in managing, exploring local resources for production, as well as giving them the opportunity of becoming exporters.
The lawmaker said the residents needed to be supported and empowered to overcome the strains of hardship.
He said: “If you give a man fish; you have just given a single meal, but if you train him in how to fish, he will eat throughout his life.”
Continuing, Johnson said there was need to rekindle hope in the people and encourage them to be proactive in the fight against poverty.
He said it was imperative to come to the aid of his constituents, who had been struggling to start a business, but for limited resources at their disposal.
Johnson restated his commitment to continue with the empowerment programmes within the available resources at his disposal in order to minimise poverty among his people.
Former Information and Strategy Commissioner Kehinde Bamigbetan, who chaired the event, advised the beneficiaries to put the skills learnt and money provided to good use.
“We are not unmindful of the need of the people to be economically empowered, hence this empowerment programme is deliberately designed to holistically address the problem of unemployment and alleviation of poverty,” he said.
Also at the event were the lawmaker representing the constituency at the Lagos House of Assembly, Jude Idimogu, Fatai Kasunmu, Gani Bello, Doyin Pikuda and Ladi Ajomale.