Osun Govt Trains, Empowers Vulcanizers to Reduce Road Accidents

The Osun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to grassroots empowerment and road safety with the successful hosting of a one-day training and empowerment programme for vulcanizers across the state.

The programme, organised by the Osun State Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun State Command, featured technical training and the distribution of 350 tyre pressure gauges to members of the Osun State Association of Vulcanizers.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, said the initiative was another practical demonstration of his administration’s people-centred governance and inclusive development agenda.

Speaking on behalf of the governor at the event held at the Staff Development Centre, State Secretariat, Osogbo, Prince Adewusi noted that the training and empowerment scheme aligns with the administration’s five-point agenda aimed at empowering citizens, uplifting households and strengthening the state’s economic base. He stressed that tyre-related faults, particularly tyre bursts and over-gauging, remain a major cause of road accidents, adding that equipping vulcanizers with modern tools and technical knowledge would significantly reduce such incidents.

According to him, the programme goes beyond empowerment, as it directly links artisans’ daily activities to public safety and economic growth. He urged beneficiaries to use the opportunity wisely, grow their businesses and become ambassadors of safety and professionalism within their communities.

“This administration is not about empty promises. We deliver, we empower and we transform lives,” the governor declared through his deputy, assuring other artisans in the state that similar empowerment programmes would be implemented in phases.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment, Hon. Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe, described the programme as a clear testament to the Adeleke administration’s commitment to sustainable development, youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth. He highlighted several empowerment initiatives already executed by the ministry, including cash grants, business registration support, POS distribution and cooperative financing, all aimed at strengthening small businesses and livelihoods across Osun State.

Ogungbangbe described the training and distribution of gauges as “a call to responsibility,” urging beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained diligently and uphold high professional standards in their trade.

Also speaking at the event, the Osun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Leye Adegboyega, applauded the state government for organising the training and empowerment programme for vulcanizers. He said the initiative was designed to deepen professional knowledge and improve daily practice among practitioners in order to protect vehicles and enhance public confidence in their trade.

Adegboyega commended the Adeleke administration for its unwavering commitment to road safety, human capacity development and the empowerment of grassroots professionals whose activities have direct implications for safety on the roads. He urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the skills and knowledge acquired to grow their businesses and contribute to safer roads across the state.

The event attracted government officials, leaders of artisan associations and road safety stakeholders, marking another milestone in Osun State’s drive to link economic empowerment with public safety.