Omu-Aran – Leaders of skilled Artisans in Omu-Aran, Kwara, on Sunday, lamented problems associated with low patronage and low income, which had forced its members to join commercial motorcycle operators.
The leaders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran that the menace could hinder governments’ Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development efforts.
According to them, skilled artisans presently embrace a more lucrative commercial motorcycle business (Okada rider) than their artisan jobs.
Chief Olu Abioye, Chairman, Furniture Manufacturer Association, Omu-Aran chapter, said the trend had remained a source of concern to the leaders.
He said the development had continued to dampened the moral of potential apprentices wishing to acquire furniture making knowledge to be self employed and self-reliant.
“You hardly find people coming forward to learn, not this trade alone, but other relevant skilled trade for their future benefit.
“Most members have been driven out of business due to high prices of raw materials and low patronages occasioned by unstable economy.
“The recent free fall of our Naira against the dollars was not helping matters,’’ he said.
Mr Musa Lawal, Chairman, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Union, in Omu-Aran, said members had been hit with low customers’ patronages and income due to the recent economic situation in the country.
“Many people have abandoned their private vehicles for public transportation.
“It is difficult to get customers to come forward to seek for servicing of their vehicles or other jobs.
“So you cannot blame members who find solace in getting motorcycles to make a living and pay their bills,’’ he said.
Master Azeez Adeleke, an Automobile Mechanic apprentice, said that he was optimistic of an improved economic situation before his graduation from the business in three years time.
“I have put my trust in God and hope that things would have improved before I graduated to be self-reliant,’’ he said.
Mr Jimoh Bouye, an official of the Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association, in Omu-Aran, acknowledged a high number of new members into the business recently, saying “it as a welcome development.”
He said the turn of event has prompted the leaders to evolve a robust monitoring mechanism in order to ensure full compliance to the laid down rules and regulations by members.
“It is a free world; anybody is welcome to the business fold irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political affiliations.
“But mind you we have a very strong monitoring mechanism to check members’ compliance and excesses.
“Commercial motorcycle business has ceased to be a job for the leftovers.
“It is not out of place to see our members building their houses, buying cars and even embarking on holy pilgrimages to Mecca and Israel,” he said.
Chief Bisi Adeyemi, a community leader in Omu-Aran, urged government to accord priority to developing the youth through skill acquisition and entrepreneurs.
Adeyemi who is the Akeweje of Omu-Aran called for allocation of more funds by the three tiers of government to the sector to achieve desired economic transformation.
He noted that such intervention would assist the youths to become self reliant in contributing their quota to national development.
NAN gathered that number of commercial motorcyclists had increased considerably in the last two years as more people were into the trade to earn their living in the area.
NAN also discovered that the mostly affected skilled artisans were automobile mechanic, vulcanisers, welders, battery chargers, Iron benders, plumbers, electricians, barbers, among others. (NAN)