Ministry Canvasses Employment Generation for Epe Youths

Funmi Ogundare

The Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment recently held stakeholders’ forum and interactive session aimed at reducing the unemployment rate among the youths and creating wealth for Lagosians.

The fourth edition of the programme, held in Epe Local Government Area is also designed to carry the relevant stakeholders along in achieving the goal of wealth creation and job opportunity of the state government.

In his remarks, the Commissioner, Mr. Babatunde Durosimi-Etti, said his ministry has been creating an enabling environment with the private sector to see how employment can be generated, adding that the youths need a mindset orientation.

He said the state government has provided five job placement centres where they can always register and access information, saying “we are working on an interactive website where opportunities will be available to Lagosians. There will be training opportunity available and links to our job searches.”

He stated that the ministry would hold an interactive session with the youths to see how they can work better to end the scourge of unemployment, adding that there would also be an internship opportunity where employers can access them based on recommendation.

Durosinmi-Etti, who emphasised on vocational training for artisans, said there is an incubator in Epe where they can also go, pay a token and learn a skill without having to go to the roadside.

“We are looking at a situation where they will no longer be on the roadside, where there will be power supply. We want to ensure that they have the best in a comfortable environment. It gives everybody the opportunity to learn skills,” he said, while enjoining them to start building up cooperatives so that they can access funds.

“It is only when you have credibility that you will be able to access funds through the Employment Trust Fund (ETF).”

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Abdul-Ahmed Mustapha, said aside empowering the unemployed, the state government plans to provide a platform for skilled artisans to work and earn a decent living without being hampered by unavailability of workshops or tools.

“Incubation centres will be built to render assistance to our young entrepreneurs by providing necessary tools and equipment to aid their businesses at a token.”

He said the provision at the centre will offer a viable platform for the artisan to compete favourably with their counterparts in their chosen skill.

The programme witnessed presentations by organisations that have partnered the government to offer employment to the youths. A representative of Service City, Mr. Femi Ogunsehinde, described the issue of employability as drastic that needs urgent attention. “Graduates are not job-ready, not that they are not employable, but once we understand what you are trying to achieve, we work with you.”

A representative of JobRed, Mr. Tunji Adebayo, expressed concern that many graduates cannot prepare their CV appropriately, saying that they don’t have email addresses and they still state their religion on it.