Only self-reliant youths will help Lagos – Govt

The Lagos State Government says has put in place policies and programmes aimed at making the youths in the state self-reliant.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, stated this while declaring open the Entrepreneurship Training programme tagged, “Business Amplifier Clinic,” a 3-day training for selected young entrepreneurs as part of the activities to mark Y2023 International Youth Day.

Oke-Osanyintolu said, “The Ministry of Youth and Social Development has organised this Young Entrepreneurs Training to build young people’s business skills and capacity. This will encourage young entrepreneurial start-ups, mentorship and acquisition of skills that will help participants adjust their products, services and processes to support climate change and the related environmental requirement.

“The THEMES Plus Agenda of the present administration is aimed at ensuring that no one is left behind. Therefore, the government has invested greatly in the enhancement of soft skills/vocational training programmes as a strong tool in solving the escalating problem of youth unemployment in the state. This training will help to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and make the youth self-reliant, thereby generating employment, reducing poverty, crime, and youth restiveness.”

In his goodwill message, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (Lagos State chapter), Comrade Biliaminu Oba, commended the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development for the initiative historic. He urged the youth to be advocates of message of peace and see Nigeria as their fatherland.

In his remark, Lagos Central Representative, National Youth Parliament, Abdulmumun Edidi, charged the youths not to give up but to strive to become job creators by taking advantage of the numerous opportunities made available for the youth by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.

Similarly, Managing Partner, PELSE Consulting,Boboye Adeniji Oluwafemi, shedding light on the essence of the Business Amplifier Clinic, said the initiative was to help participants acquire the fundamental knowledge required to take their businesses to the next level and add more value to the society.

The 3-day business training is expected to expose participants to the basic knowledge of business forecasting, product branding and personal growth development also has business pitch contest at the end of the training where the best five winners will receive handsome rewards.

A statement added that this year’s International Youth Day with the theme, “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World,” is being celebrated by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development with a week-long set of activities that would end on Saturday, August, 12, 2023.