Patronise our services — Lagos Artisans, Technicians implore LASG, FG
…Say they need support to sustain provision of technical services
By Akinyemi Precious
Artisans and Technicians in Lagos have pleaded with both the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government (LASG) to patronise them both in the State and in the nation at large for projects and services they said they are competent to render with proficiency.
The stakeholders under the umbrella of the Association of Lagos Artisans and Technicians (ASLAT) made the call on Wednesday at the ASLAT Mid-year Thanksgiving celebration and Award ceremony held in Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, the President of the Association, Mr Lawrence Ajayi said that the support of the government is needed in order to help the young ones in the occupation grow and the older ones sustained.
He emphasised that there are Artisans and Technicians in various fields that the government can support by engaging their services when there are needs by the government to execute projects.
He also said that these Artisans and Technicians build their businesses from the scratch and also contribute their quota to the development of the economy in Nigeria even though things are expensive.
Ajayi also encouraged the youths to embrace technical trainings and “hand-works,” despite the presence of white collar jobs.
Ajayi who noted that the Association is accessible and new members are welcome, said, “you can call on us, we will show you the way.”
The General Secretary of ASLAT and National Coordinator of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians, Mr Adeshina Akinyemi also emphasised that an autonomous agency for Artisans and Technicians should be created and be managed by them.
He recalled that the government came up with a programme in 2001 when President Bola Tinubu was still Governor of Lagos State under which Artisans were trained, re-trained and empowered with money and machineries.
However, he stated that all of these would be futile without patronage.
“When you empower, when you train and you don’t patronise, how do we make money? How do we get back what we invested in our trades? And that is the problem,” he said.
He stated that the government should get closer to the Association and they will be able to channel a new course for themselves and move forward.
“Patronise our products and services and we are okay,” he reiterated.
“However, government policies, lack of social amenities as well as taxes have affected artisans in so many ways and have limited the prowess of many Artisans, an average Artisan does not have what they need to do their jobs effectively and Artisans and Technicians including auto technicians need to upgrade,” he said.
Board of Trustees Chairman, ASLAT, Asiwaju Jacob Omonide Fayehun, Executive Chairman, Nigerian Automobile Technician Association (NATA), Comrade Egberoungbe Moruf pleaded with the government to help the Association by encouraging the small and medium businesses as well.
They applauded the Lagos State Government for their contributions so far and urged the government to do more for them.
In attendance at the event were the 17 Associations that made up ASLAT.
ASLAT was established in 2017 with the aim to guide Lagos Artisans and Technicians into successful entrepreneurs and advocate for policies that will benefit their products and services.
All the presidents of the Associations which made up ASLAT were awarded for their support and contributions so far to the development of the association.
The Associations include Sign Writers and Screen Printing Association of Nigeria (SSPAN), Lagos State Professional Photographers Association (LASSPA), Association of Professional Caterers and Decorators Of Nigeria (APCDN), Association of Nigeria Art, Signs and Graphics Production (ANASGP), Nigerian Union of Tailors (NUT), Lagos State Chapter, Corporate Branding and Multiprint Association of Nigeria (COBMAN), Association of Professional Plumbers of Nigeria (APPN), Nigerian Association of Refrigerators and Air Conditioning Practioners (NARAP), Lagos State Aluminium Fabricators (LASAFA), Association of Woodcraft, Carpentry and Furniture Makers of Nigeria (AWCAFAN), Lagos State Shoemakers Association of Nigeria (LASSMA), International Hairstylists and Barbers Association of Nigeria (IHSTOBAN), Nigerian Welders Association (NWA) among others.
