……As 34 Young People Trained in Photography, Confectionery and Soap Making.
Emmanuel Ikpeama
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Isolo Local Branch, in collaboration with Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has empowered young people through a free vocational skills acquisition programme held to commemorate the 2026 World Youth Skills Day. 
The training, which took place on Wednesday at the Isolo Youth Centre, LSDPC Estate, Ile Iwe Metta, Isolo, focused on equipping participants with practical, income-generating skills in line with this year’s global theme, “Skills for a Shared Future.”
Speaking during the event, the Coordinator of NYCN Isolo Local Branch, Damilola Kushimo, said the initiative reflects the council’s commitment to promoting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance while supporting the developmental agenda of the Isolo LCDA administration.
According to him, 34 young participants successfully registered for the programme within three days. Of the number, 18 received training in Photography and Videography, 11 were trained in Confectionery, while five participants learned Soap Making.
Kushimo explained that although the turnout was impressive, the number of participants would have been higher if schools were not in session, noting that most beneficiaries were between the ages of 15 and 30, with participants drawn mainly from Isolo and neighbouring communities, including Ejigbo and Oshodi.
He described the programme as part of NYCN’s contribution to complementing the youth development initiatives of Isolo LCDA Chairman, Otunba Olasoju Adebayo, while also responding to the challenge issued to all 57 NYCN local branches in Lagos State by the State Chairman, Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, MNSE, to commemorate World Youth Skills Day through impactful community-based projects.
Kushimo stressed that vocational skills have become essential tools for economic survival and sustainable development, urging young people to embrace skill acquisition alongside formal education.
He noted that acquiring a trade is no longer optional in today’s economy, adding that continuous learning and regular practice remain key to mastering any vocation.
The NYCN coordinator expressed appreciation to the Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Otunba Olasoju Adebayo, whom he described as the Grand Patron of the council’s local branch, for his unwavering support towards youth-focused initiatives.
He also thanked the Council’s Supervisor for Agriculture, Rural and Community Development, Hon. Olamide Taiwo, and other supporters whose contributions ensured the success of the programme.
Representing the Lagos State Chapter of NYCN, the Assistant Public Relations Officer, Comrade Choice Ukpai, who monitored the exercise, commended the Isolo Local Branch for organizing a well-coordinated and impactful programme.
She praised the quality of the training sessions and encouraged participants to make productive use of the knowledge acquired.
Beyond the practical training, participants also benefited from an enlightenment session facilitated by officials of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) in Isolo, who educated them on available start-up loans, grants and business support opportunities designed to help young entrepreneurs establish and expand their businesses.
Certificates of participation were presented to all trainees at the end of the programme.
One of the beneficiaries, Fatimah AbdulRaheem, a Mass Communication student with aspirations of becoming a photojournalist, described the training as highly enriching, saying it broadened her understanding of photography and strengthened her determination to pursue a career in the profession.
