By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to combatting youth unemployment by equipping students and graduates with digital and entrepreneurship skills, in line with its strategic vision to build a resilient and productive workforce for the future.
This reaffirmation was made by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr Tolani Sule, during the Job Initiative Lagos (JIL) training session held over the weekend at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo campus. The initiative forms part of the state’s broader plan to reduce poverty and create pathways to self-reliance among young people.
Addressing undergraduates from state-owned tertiary institutions, Commissioner Sule stressed that despite the competing financial demands facing the government, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains unwavering in prioritising digital literacy and entrepreneurial learning.
“Digital and entrepreneurship knowledge is a crucial tool for youth empowerment and self-employment,” he declared. “We are committed to ensuring that no student from Lagos State institutions is left behind in the fast-evolving global landscape.”
Sule encouraged the students to take full advantage of the training, describing it as a critical complement to their classroom education.
He reminded them that the programme is funded with public resources and urged them to justify the investment by becoming drivers of innovation and economic growth in Lagos.
Supporting the Commissioner’s remarks, Mr Adeniran Kasali, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, highlighted that the JIL curriculum was designed by seasoned experts in digital and entrepreneurial development. The facilitators were selected for their proven ability to mentor young people navigating complex and competitive environments.
Kasali urged students to put their newly acquired skills to immediate use, even before graduation, adding:
“The government has not just trained you; it has empowered you to become future employers, not just job seekers.”
The three-weekend training, running concurrently at LASU and the Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET), Yaba, is a flagship component of the THEMES Plus Agenda, a strategy designed to position Lagos as a digital and entrepreneurial hub in West Africa.
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