Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday joined thousands of artisans and tradesmen at the 2012 Edition of the Tradesmen and Artisans Week celebrations, describing them as cornerstones of prosperity in the State even as he urged them never to compromise on standards as any shoddy jobs by them could have fatal consequences.
The Governor who spoke at the BlueRoof Hall in LTV 8, Agidingbi, IKeja added that all practicing artisans and tradesmen must make it a point of duty to always keep it at the back of their minds that they must not cut corners, because it does not pay.
He explained that since artisans have proved to be a cornerstone of prosperity of Lagos State and being the ones who make things happen, with their skills always in constant demand for the people’s daily survival, they must also improve and form themselves into co-operatives in order to realize their full potentials.
Governor Fashola reiterated that the State will organize more training for the different grades of artisans and also ensure that those trained impart the knowledge on those coming behind them in a train the trainers’ concept.
He urged them to organize themselves in terms of their working environment by ensuring that they separate their offices from their workshops, adding that for some people, untidy state of their workshop which is not separated from the office often drives away potential customers.
He noted that what is ideal for every artisan is to set aside the money that he uses for business as distinct from what he spends as personal emolument, adding that what is very desirable is for everyone to earn a salary from his earning and if possible also employ an accountant who keeps a proper record of the financial books.
The Governor also said there is strength in numbers and that the artisans as professional groups should form themselves into Co-operatives where they stand a chance of attracting loans from commercial lending institutions.
He cited the example of the Lagos State Meat Sellers Association, who successfully organized themselves into a co-operative group and got N1.2Billion as loan from Fidelity Bank at a programme yesterday to fund the procurement of refrigerated meat vans for the use of their members in the state.
The Governor who spoke at length on the vital roles that artisans play in various sectors urged them to note that each time a building collapses in the state, they might be a part of the problem for agreeing to use a substandard material either as a bricklayer or a carpenter in the course of constructing the building.
The Governor said the same applies when an automobile mechanic decides to buy a substandard brake pad to be installed in a vehicle and the vehicle ends up in a road crash that may involve fatalities.
