AR-RAUDOH INSTITUTE UNVEILS SKILLS PROGRAMME TO TACKLE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Adubiaro Commends Initiative, Urges Beneficiaries to Maximise Opportunity

 The Convener of Ar-Raudoh Institute for Islamic and Human Development, Imam Dr. Olayiwola Abdul Qudus, has said the institute’s skills acquisition and empowerment programme was established to tackle youth unemployment, reduce poverty and equip young people with practical skills that would enable them become economically self-reliant.

Qudus stated this on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Maolud Nabiyy Symposium and official launch of the Ar-Raudoh Institute held at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Odo-Otu, Ado-Ekiti, with the theme, “Prophetic Teachings and Human Development: Building a Spiritually Grounded and Economically Empowered Ummah.”

The Convener, who is also the Chief Imam of Akinbami Islamic Foundation, Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, and a lecturer at Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, said the initiative was borne out of concern over the growing number of youths who, despite obtaining formal education, remain without employment or practical skills to earn a living.

According to him, government alone cannot provide jobs for the increasing population of young people, making it necessary for individuals, religious organisations and other stakeholders to complement government efforts through practical human-capital development.

He said the institute was particularly interested in moving young people from dependency to productivity by providing them with vocational training, entrepreneurial knowledge and the basic tools required to establish their own businesses.

Qudus said 20 beneficiaries were selected for the inaugural phase of the programme, with training opportunities in areas including solar energy, plumbing, tailoring and fashion design, cake and pastry production, agriculture, computer programming, painting, phone repairs and other vocational trades.

He explained that the programme was deliberately designed to accommodate beneficiaries from different Islamic organisations, while non-Muslims were also allowed to participate, stressing that the vision of Ar-Raudoh went beyond religious boundaries to encompass broader human development.

The Convener said the beneficiaries would be monitored throughout their training to ensure seriousness, commitment and dedication, adding that successful participants would subsequently receive basic equipment and materials to enable them establish their respective businesses.

He said the decision to provide start-up equipment was informed by the need to prevent a situation where beneficiaries complete their training but return to unemployment because they lack the resources to practise what they have learnt.

Qudus explained that “Ar-Raudoh,” meaning “garden,” represents the institute’s vision of cultivating people through Islamic knowledge, skills development and economic empowerment so that they can become productive members of society.

Representing the Ekiti State Government as Special Guest of Honour, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Omolara Adubiaro, commended the institute for initiating the programme, describing it as a contribution to human-capital development and poverty reduction.

Adubiaro urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously, acquire the necessary knowledge and skills and convert the training into sustainable sources of livelihood.

She also called on other Muslim organisations and community groups to emulate the initiative by investing in skills acquisition and creating opportunities for youths to become economically independent.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Mahmoud Danjuma Musa, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Transnational Studies, University of Ilorin, said Islamic teachings promote hard work, craftsmanship, education, skills acquisition and legitimate means of livelihood.

Musa urged Muslims to shun laziness and dependence on begging, stressing that the Qur’an and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad encourage dignity of labour, self-reliance and economic productivity.

He called on Muslim stakeholders to establish skills acquisition centres in mosques and communities where youths could acquire vocational skills and develop legitimate means of earning a living.

The scholar, however, noted that seeking assistance could be justified in cases of genuine hardship, particularly where individuals face serious medical conditions or financial obligations beyond their capacity.

The Chairman of the Day, Alhaji Sulaimon Akinbami, also described the programme as a significant step towards encouraging legitimate livelihoods and changing perceptions about Muslims and begging.

Akinbami, a businessman, urged youths to acquire skills and engage in productive ventures, stressing that Qur’anic and formal education should not prevent anyone from learning a trade or establishing a business.

The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Abdul Razaq Muhydeen, said the empowerment programme was designed to assist youths who lacked the financial capacity to acquire vocational training.

He explained that beneficiaries were drawn from different Islamic organisations through a process aimed at promoting fairness, while their progress would be monitored throughout the training.

The Secretary of the Institute, Mr. Usman Olawale, disclosed that 20 beneficiaries had registered for the inaugural training and were expected to complete the programme and graduate by this time next year.

Olawale said the graduates would thereafter receive equipment and materials to enable them commence their chosen trades and become economically productive.

Earlier, the first lecture of the symposium was delivered by Imam Abdul Multalib, who spoke on the life, character and exemplary representation of Islam by Prophet Muhammad. He urged Muslims to emulate the Prophet’s virtues through obedience to Allah, good character, compassion and responsible conduct.

The event was held under the spiritual leadership of Alhaji Dr. Jamiu Kewulere Bello, President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of the South-West and Edo States, who was represented by Imam Abdul Rasheed Bamidele.

Other dignitaries included Alhaji Chief Omotunde Kazeem Ololade, Alhaji Adetoro Omoniyi Kabir and Alhaji Ahmed Adewusi, the Akeweje of the Muslim Community, Ado-Ekiti, among others.

The organisers said the empowerment scheme would be sustained and expanded in subsequent phases to accommodate more beneficiaries, with the long-term objective of producing spiritually grounded, skilled and economically independent members of society.