By Asaye Bankole
The Balarabe Abiodun Akinwumi Foundation has trained 30 young people in various vocational skills and announced plans to sponsor an additional 100 youths for digital-skills training.
The beneficiaries graduated from the foundation’s skills-acquisition programme at its Impact and Graduation Ceremony held on Friday, September 11, 2026.
The 30 graduates were trained in areas including fashion designing, hair styling, photography, video editing, event planning, pastry making and nail artistry.
Speaking at the ceremony, the founder of the foundation, Balarabe Abiodun Akinwumi, said empowering young people with practical skills remained a major priority of his commitment to community development.
Akinwumi, who is the African Democratic Congress candidate for the Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, stressed that sustainable empowerment goes beyond providing financial assistance.
He said young people also needed practical skills, mentorship and continuous support to enable them to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to society.
The founder subsequently announced that the foundation would sponsor another 100 young people for digital-skills training as part of efforts to expand its empowerment programmes and prepare beneficiaries for opportunities in the digital economy.
Earlier, the foundation’s manager, Mrs Simisola Alabi, said the organisation measured its impact not merely by the number of people it had assisted, but by the positive changes its interventions had brought to individuals, families and communities.
According to her, the foundation had paid the school fees of 100 students and supported 20 parents with the education of their children.
She added that the organisation had also distributed 60 school uniforms, more than 2,000 learning materials, 500 mathematical sets and 500 school bags, while sponsoring Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board registration for 100 teenagers.
Alabi further disclosed that the foundation responded to a request from residents of Ifelodun community by providing two 2,500-litre water tanks after their existing water-storage facilities were damaged.
The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates to the 30 graduates, as well as a panel discussion and talent presentations by some of the beneficiaries.
The foundation said the initiatives were part of its broader commitment to youth empowerment, education and community development.
COMMENTS