“My disability is not inability” was the slogan and chant that rent the air on the 24th through 30th of May at the African Church Grammar School Abeokuta during the three days training and empowerment programme organized by Mr Abayomi Soetan, the Chief Executive Officer of Wheelchair Dreamz Enterprise, producer of ‘Mr Mogbo Moya’ Foods and Old Student of African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta.
The three days programme which took place at the African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta was to train and empower women with physical disabilities and secondary school students on ‘Garri’ production, packaging, branding and marketing to address the contemporary life-threatening ‘giant’, food insecurity in Nigeria.
The programme which was organized by Mr Soetan with the partnership of the Ogun State Agricultual Development Programme (OGADEP) was to rescue the trainees from being burden to and subject of ridicule in the society.
While addressing the participants, the convener, Mr Abayomi said that the essence of the programme is to confront food shortage in Nigeria through women with physical disabilities “The reason behind this mission is to train and empower women with visible disabilities on how to come in and address the issue of food insecurity in Nigeria because the way things are going now, many able body- men and women are already deserting farming. This is coupled with the fact that the aging are either going out of strength to cope or go into extinction, and if we should fold our hands, it is these special people in the society that will suffer the most”
While enlightening the trainees on the best cassava brand that is appropriate for ‘garri’ production, the Subject Matter Specialist, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), Mrs Sodipo, commended the courage of the organizer, Mr Soetan, saying that the gesture will go a long way to liberate many women with visible disability from the shackles of poverty and make them producers and also prepare the students for the future. Mrs Sodipo further counseled the participants to be conscious of the type of cassava tuber that they will buy for ‘garri’ production “Some of the cassava tuber are not healthy enough for ‘garri’ production and international market”
Mrs Aderinola, Agricultural Extension Agent, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme, in her speech, spoke to the trainees on packaging, branding and marketing. She enjoined the trainees to apply professionalism in these areas as they are key areas of production “at this stage, you have to be extra-conscious of the packaging, branding and marketing. You must do everything right to convince your consumers that your brand is the best”
Mrs Yinka Ileyemi, Chairperson, National Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD), Egba Zone, appealed to government at state and federal levels to come to their aid for the actualization of their mission “all we need from government is to support us, we have chosen to join forces with government to address and stem the tide of food insecurity in our nation.We need mordern equipment for production and security.”
The representative of the national body of African Church Grammar School Old Students Association, Mr Nicholas Olarewaju congratulated the trainees for the rare opportunity at their disposal. While presenting the certificate of commendation to the successful trainees, Sir Nicholas Olarewaju appealed to the trainees to judiciously tap into this inestimable opportunity to attain the highest attainment in life “Do not look down on yourself or pity your situation. You can make it with this opportunity, only if you can be more courageous, aspire and believe in yourself like Mr Abayomi Soetan. You should know that you are on the planet earth for a purpose, irrespective of your status and that is why you are here today. So I rejoice with and congratulate you once again”
A student of African Church Grammar School Abeokuta, Onaoluwa Olaleye while expressing her gratitude to the convener, revealed that the three days training and empowerment programme has greatly open her eyes and spurred her to take bold and purposeful step in the direction of what they had acquired.
The head of the Vocational Department of African Church Grammar School Abeokuta, Mrs Olujobi applauded Mr Abayomi Soetan and the entire Old Students Association for their love and effort towards empowering, making life meaningful and bearable for the down- trodden in the society.
In his closing remarks, the CEO, Mogbo Moya Foods and convener of the programme, Mr. Abayomi, thanked everyone for making his dream come to reality. He specially appreciated the National President, Barr. Bola Shittu, the entire member of African Church Grammar School Old Students Association, the school management, the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) and Afronews for their immeasurable support towards the success of the three days training and empowerment programme.
