A first class monarch, the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has called on traditional rulers to establish businesses and create jobs for the teeming youths in the country.
Oba Akintunde advised his colleagues to stop blaming government for joblessness and instead create jobs and lift the burden off the government.
- PODCAST: How far IDPs go for survival
- BREAKING: Many feared killed as gunmen launch house-to-house raid in Katsina
He spoke with newsmen in Abeokuta at the unveiling of his ‘Vogue Royal Fashion House.’
The monarch said the fashion house was established to create jobs, to allow graduates of vocational schools to learn fashion designing to display their talents.
Akintunde said there is need for monarchs to venture into entrepreneurship in order to depend on government for incomes.
He said “My advice to my colleagues is that we as royal fathers should have a second address. We don’t have to depend from the income from the government. I have never depended on government income from time, because I have my businesses.
“And secondly, I will just implore them that we should do more, if we are complaining everyday that government is not creating jobs, let us create jobs too, we have over 200 traditional rulers in Ogun state and if they all have sponsored businesses like agriculture, fashion and others, it will take a lot of people away from the labour market and that is the truth. The example should start from us and we can now put the government on their toes.”
Speaking on the fashion house, Akintunde said “Majorly, we are going to be sewing ready to wear traditional attires, school uniforms and vests. We have machines here that design caps, we have modern machines.
“We are even planning to have a school, like a vocational school for youths to acquire skills. We are going to be promoting Yoruba attires, royal attires and school uniforms.”