The Lagos State Government has once again reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, job creation, and skills development as it hosted the Eko Skills Development Initiative for Youths on Tuesday, 30th September 2025, at Unity Hall, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos.
The event, themed “Unlocking Potentials for a Greater, Brighter and Rewarding Lagos,” served as a rallying platform to equip young people, especially those in disadvantaged communities, with the relevant skills, entrepreneurial knowledge, and creative capacity required to thrive in a dynamic economy and contribute meaningfully to Lagos State’s development.
In his address, the Honourable Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Esv. Wasiu Adebayo Olayinka, described the initiative as a clarion call to fully harness the immense energy, creativity, and resilience of the State’s youthful population. He emphasised that the destiny of Lagos as Africa’s hub of commerce, creativity, and culture is inseparably tied to the empowerment of its young people.
He said the young people are not just leaders of tomorrow; they are innovators of today, entrepreneurs of today, and architects of the Lagos we dream to build. According to him, through this initiative, the government is equipping them with digital skills, entrepreneurial knowledge, vocational expertise, and creative abilities, the very tools needed to make Lagos not only inclusive but also globally competitive.
He further noted that in an era where skills have become the new global currency, Lagos cannot afford to lag. Instead, the State must continue to set the pace by building resilient ecosystems of opportunity through government programmes, private sector collaboration, and development partnerships.
Delivering the Welcome Address on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Esv. Wasiu Adebayo Olayinka, the Director of Employment in the Ministry, Mr. Demilola Shitta described the programme as a deliberate and strategic investment in human capital, which he called the State’s most valuable asset.
He explained that the initiative goes beyond a mere training exercise; it is an investment in innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. By unlocking the potential of the youths, Lagos is laying the foundation for stronger families, uplifted communities, and accelerated national development.
He noted that participants would undergo training in carefully designed modules covering business planning, enterprise development, vocational training, and post-training support mechanisms, all of which are structured to ensure sustainability beyond the classroom. Olayinka also stressed that under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Creation and Employment, Comrade Tijani Oluwadare highlighted the structure, objectives, and expected outcomes of the initiative. He stressed the need to move beyond training into practical application and sustainability, ensuring that every participant is equipped not just with skills but also with access to mentorship, funding, and platforms that connect them to real economic opportunities.
He explained that the focus is to build ecosystems that connect trainees to markets, mentors, and finance so that every trained youth has the chance to become an employer or a competitive participant in the digital, vocational, and creative economies.
The event featured a very enlightening panel discussion and brought together government officials, facilitators, private sector partners, and community stakeholders.
The State Government charged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the initiative with passion, discipline, and determination, noting that the brighter future they aspire to begins with the deliberate steps they take today.
The Eko Skills Development Initiative for Youths is one of the flagship strategies of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration to reduce unemployment, bridge the skills gap, foster entrepreneurship, and build an economy where no youth is left behind.
