Lagos Prioritises Digital, Entrepreneurship Skills to Tackle Youth Unemployment

 

By Kayode Olopade 

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to reducing youth unemployment and expanding economic opportunities for undergraduates through sustained investment in digital literacy and entrepreneurship training.

This reaffirmation was made at the Job Initiative Lagos programme over the weekend by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, while addressing students of Lagos State-owned tertiary institutions at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

Mr. Sule said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains fully dedicated to the THEMES+ Agenda and will continue to equip students with the competencies required to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

“Despite competing demands on state resources, the government has consistently prioritised digital and entrepreneurship knowledge as a strategic pathway for young people and graduates to achieve self-employment,” the Commissioner said.

He urged the participating students to take the training seriously, stressing that the programme is funded with taxpayers’ money and designed to complement their classroom education. He added that the state expects beneficiaries to justify the government’s investment by contributing meaningfully to Lagos’ economic and productive sectors in the future.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr. Adeniran Kasali, disclosed that the curriculum for the programme was developed by leading experts in the digital and entrepreneurship fields. According to him, facilitators were carefully selected for their practical experience and ability to guide young people on navigating the challenges of today’s competitive work environment

Kasali encouraged the students to begin applying the knowledge gained from the training immediately, even before graduation. He noted that with the government’s intervention, the participants are being positioned to become future employers of labour.

The three-weekend Job Initiative Lagos training, targeted at students in state-owned tertiary institutions, is taking place simultaneously at LASU, Ojo, and the Lagos State College of Health Technology, Yaba. The programme is a key component of the state government’s drive to empower undergraduates with globally competitive skills and consolidate Lagos’ status as the emerging digital hub of West Africa.