LAGOS  – The Chief Executive Officer of Santoks Demiurge & Co. Limited, Prince Olatokunbo Babasola, has said that arrangements have been concluded with Ibadan North Local Government Authority to start the training of 1,000 Nigerians in furniture design/ production, equipment fabrication/adaptation and foam conversion technology. He stated that products from the centre will be manufactured in commercial quantities.

He stated that those trained will in turn be mandated to train 9,000 Nigerian youths indirectly over a period of five years.

Banasola added that the aim of the project is to reduce unemployment among the youths and take them off the streets and reduce crime and criminality in the country.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent on Wednesday, the serial entrepreneur disclosed that he had started the construction of workshop at the centre where the training will take place.

He disclosed that the training will take place at an existing centre owned by the Ibadan North Local Government; he said that the centre does not have a Carpentry/Furniture Department.

According to him, the project is located in the heart of Ibadan City, along Olubadan Palace Road, Yemetu Alaadorin, Ibadan.

He said that the activities at the centre will be replicated in other training sectors for fashion, leatherwork, electrical works and others.

He called on individuals, corporate bodies and organizations to join him in the quest to empower Nigerian youths so that they will have the skills and competences to contribute to the economic development of the country.

He stressed the need to change the views of Nigerians in the Diaspora, who view investing in the youths at home as too risky.