Lagos State Government and PAU's Enterprise Development Centre Launch Training Program for 10,000 Young Women
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
In a bid to foster human capital development and cultivate skills essential for employability and entrepreneurship among young women, the Lagos State government in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos, has initiated a training program set to benefit 10,000 individuals.
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Commissioner for the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, disclosed that the program, themed "Transformation of Nigerian Youths," is slated to span 24 months. It encompasses a blend of online partner-sponsored sessions and physical community-based learning. Notably, the online training has already commenced, with 635 women currently enrolled.
Ajigbotafe revealed plans to expand the initiative, aiming to register 2,000 women for the pilot phase, thereby ensuring a hybrid approach involving both physical and virtual training methods. The inaugural session for physical training commenced recently, with 153 women participating.
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Open to youths across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State, the training program offers an opportunity for participants to acquire vital skills. As an incentive, the best 80 participants who successfully complete the program stand to receive a seed capital of N200,000 each.
Highlighting the imperative of collaboration between government and the private sector, Ajigbotafe emphasized the importance of leveraging partnerships, particularly amid prevailing economic challenges locally and globally. This collaboration, he noted, is crucial for realizing the government's vision of fostering wealth creation and employment opportunities for the burgeoning youth population in Lagos State.
Looking ahead, the Commissioner announced the forthcoming unveiling of a male-focused empowerment initiative by the state government, demonstrating its commitment to gender-inclusive development strategies.
Dr. Biodun Onayele, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, echoed the government's unwavering dedication to empowering young people. He stressed the importance of equipping them with the necessary skills to enhance their livelihoods, thereby contributing to the creation of a robust, inclusive, and sustainable economy.
