Craftsmen at Aba, Abia State as well as traders at Onitsha, Anambra State should get prepared to receive new apprentices from Ekiti State.

This is being promoted as a bid by the Ekiti State government to ensure that Ekiti youths are trained to be self-reliant and look beyond government patronage, and to also prove that, aside education, developing unskilled Ekiti youths does not warrant only sending them overseas for training.

The idea was floated by Hon. (Dr.) STB Omotoso, Ekiti State House of Assembly Member-elect (Oye 1 Constituency, PDP) during a courtesy visit by Ekiti State Assembly Members-elect to the corporate head office of Vanguard Media Ltd, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos, on Wednesday last week.

Hon. Omotosho, while condemning critics of Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State for their criticisms of what has come to be termed “stomach infrastructure”, said such criticisms give the concept a narrow definition as it goes beyond giving gifts of bags of rice and other foodstuff to voters to influence their choice.

“Stomach infrastructure is narrowly defined by critics of Governor Fayose”, Hon. Omotosho said. “It is not all about just feeding people or giving gifts to people. If one should expatiate on the concept, it entails providing the people not only with the basic necessities of life after election, but also empowering them by making them self-reliant, with the best education and training and then giving them employment, which the Fayose government is presently engaged in.”

Speaking further, the lawmaker-elect said the Ekiti State government did not need to waste scarce resources sending Ekiti unskilled youths to Europe or America for training. “Instead, they could be sent to Aba to learn how to make shoes and bags, and to Onitsha to master trade; while those who are qualified and competent will be given local contracts. This is the concept behind the so-called ‘stomach infrastructure’ and not just distributing gift items. Stomach infrastructure goes on after election. It is about helping the poor. It is about engaging them in what can feed them earn a living. That’s what Fayose wants to continue doing. He needs stability to achieve for no progress can be made during crisis. We have had enough crisis and we want peaqce in our state.”

Aba, well known for its handicrafts, is reputed for its handmade shoes and handbags. It is also a major manufacturing and trading centre in South-Eastern Nigeria, with its Ariaria International Market as the largest market in West Africa, seconded by the Onitsha Main Market.

And Onitsha is known for its trading, where the average traders are known to bring in at least six consignments of 40 tonnes (40-feet containers) of goods annually. Some of the major importers do more than 20 consignments of 40 tonnes of goods per year.

Interestingly, the multi-billion dollar economies of both commercial towns are dominated by craftsmen and merchants many of whom do not have university education, but rely on apprenticeship to cut their teeth in the trades before going on their own.

It will be recalled that “stomach infrastructure” crept into Nigeria’s political lexicon following the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election when voters were given gifts of bags of rice and other foodstuff by office contenders to influence their choice. Both Fayose and Fayemi, the then governor gave out gifts. But Fayose’s became so prominent that it was believed to have led to his victory.

Fayose sending Ekiti youths to Aba and Onitsha in furtherance of his stomach infrastructure will be a move which is believed will enjoy the backing of the incoming Ekiti State House of Assembly, as all 26 members-elect were elected on PDP ticket, like the governor.

The youths, according to the said plan, are expected to return to Ekiti State after completing their apprenticeship, to re-enact the Aba and Onitsha phenomenon in their home state.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/new-lawmakers-define-ekiti-stomach-infrastructure/?utm_source=&utm_medium=facebook#sthash.6xtp1nVo.dpuf

Good we are all brothers

Just negodu!

There is no way in hell that this thread will not turn into a battle ground for ipob olodos and afonja destitutes very soon! The narrative in the thread is just too tempting...make I wait for them!




**parks keke**

see person wey wan go learn trade shape? (belle) Nigerians are so gullible

Funlordjnr:



There is no way in hell that this thread will not turn into a battle ground for ipob olodos and afonja destitutes very soon! The narrative in the thread is just too tempting...make I wait for them!




**parks keke**

They are welcome, I wonder if the knowledge can fit into heads shaped like c*nes

Na joke ooo

Funlordjnr:



There is no way in hell that this thread will not turn into a battle ground for ipob olodos and afonja destitutes very soon! The narrative in the thread is just too tempting...make I wait for them!




**parks keke**

Reason I haven't commented ..

I am surprised you've not fired the first shot

Ok

I see

More of this is needed between the Southeast and the Southwest. Since no man is an island of knowledge, we all have a thing to learn from each other. Kudos to governor Ayodele Fayose for this brilliant idea.

Nigeria will only become great a nation when love triumphs over hate.

flyingsnail:


Good we are all brothers

We're brothers when you want to learn from us but when we come to trade in Lagos, you release all those urchins to harass our business in the name of omo alaye.

Hmmmm. Ekiti

bejeiodus:
More of this is needed between the Southeast and the Southwest. Since no man is an island of knowledge, we all have a thing to learn from each other. Kudos to governor Ayodele Fayose for such a brilliant idea.

Nigeria will only be great a nation when love triumphs over hate.

Good talk. But please advice people on the other side of the divide to always remember that "the person you despise today could be your Oga tomorrow"

It's a good initiative. Especially as it is locally driven.
Patronize naija(Aba, Onitsha, Nnewi, Lagos, Kano etc) to grow the Naira.

God bless.

dunkem21:


Goodluck being the umpire .. You never watch wrestling wen dem beat referee till e enter coma

abi oooo. We're the two opponent go father beat referee

orimsamsam:
abi oo. We're the two opponent go father beat referee

Hahahaha ..I never see this one o

Anybody wey fire the first shot here from the two camps, we go gather beat am

dunkem21:


Reason I haven't commented ..

I am surprised you've not fired the first shot

Funlordjnr:

There is no way in hell that this thread will not turn into a battle ground for ipob olodos and afonja destitutes very soon! The narrative in the thread is just too tempting...make I wait for them!
**parks keke**

Una go wait taya. No tribal bashing today.
Today, we go do sober reflection.
Una plan don fail.

I applaud this man's move! It is a move in a positive direction. It will not only strengthen the policy of 'stomach infrastructure and stomach liturgy' but strengthen the southern unity as well.

The South Easterners should please do not use derogatory statements to discourage these youths.

Rather, the southern leaders can emulate; even encourage inter ethnic marriage to salvage the disunity.

Each time I think of how the north treats the south because of their unity, it gives me heart ache.

Op , Afonjas will come for your heads

God bless the omoalubis

Opharhe:
Una go wait taya. No tribal bashing today.
Today, we go do sober reflection.
Una plan don fail.

if i hear. me wey i dey type tribal stuff like dis. like dis

vanbonattel:


Good talk. But please advice people on the other side of the divide to always remember that "the person you despise today could be your Oga tomorrow"

Motigbo sir.

... Nice one. More trade, business, cultural, religious and marital exchanges should be further encouraged between Nigerians.

you mean the afonjas re coming to Anambra? to learn? the cone headed sawt waste sufferiscated brown roof Republic ritual and crime zone in the south side of the cantry. re thoroughly gonna be humiliated...


oga::::hey femi. go wash dat plate come go buy me food. buy rice 100 plantain 100 beans 50 meat 4 fish 1. buy coke.
femi :::yea sir..

oga::hey femi. u don chop?

femi :: no sir..

oga:::take dis 100 go chop....

(femi buy d food and about to eat)
oga:: femi cover ur food come carry dis market go drop for park for customer... from thr go to the warehouse bring count all d goods thr.
buy wheel cover wheel barrow alloyed...


chaii. afonja humiliation thread...

is this a recent news?? because there was this type of news immediately Fayose was sworn in

Ejanla07:
you mean the afonjas re coming to Anambra? to learn? the cone headed sawt waste sufferiscated brown roof Republic ritual and crime zone in the south side of the cantry. re thoroughly gonna be humiliated...


oga::::hey femi. go wash dat plate come go buy me food. buy rice 100 plantain 100 beans 50 meat 4 fish 1. buy coke.
femi :::yea sir..

oga::hey femi. u don chop?

femi :: no sir..

oga:::take dis 100 go chop....

(femi buy d food and about to eat)
oga:: femi cover ur food come carry dis market go drop for park for customer... from thr go to the warehouse bring count all d goods thr.


chaii. afonja humiliation thread...

Shut the fuckup, i am from anambra and i find this initiative very innovative

ruggedboy01:
[]

You no go stop

Last warning .. No Tribals today

MXrep:
is this a recent news?? because there was this type of news immediately Fayose was sworn in

Yeah you're right ..The news has been making rounds for some months. It was only brought up to promote bigotry.

vani86:



Shut the fuckup, i am from anambra and i find this initiative very innovative

if u like be from Yoruba. d afonjas will be humiliated full stop.