By correspondent
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tertiary Education and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Students’ Union Affairs, has called on youths to embrace entrepreneurship.
Speaking at an event at the Lagos State University (LASU) in commemoration of the 2025 International Students’ Day, the SSA, Mr Kappo Olawale, said the state government would remain committed to the youth development.
Olawale described International Students’ Day as historic, noting that it represents students’ long struggle for better welfare and opportunities.
He highlighted the government’s commitment to preparing young people for a rapidly evolving society.
Olawale said the programme was designed to make students “future-ready.”
He urged students not to wait until after graduation to begin their entrepreneurial journeys.
According to him, innovation thrives on early exposure and practical learning.
“This is a day celebrated globally to recognise students and the need to prepare them for the future. Society is changing rapidly and our youths must be ready to compete globally,” the SSA said.
He said Professor of Environmental Microbiology at LASU, Olufemi Obayori, was invited to deliver a lecture on entrepreneurship to help participants maximise the opportunity.
“We also brought aides of the Governor, such as the SSA on Wealth Creation and SSA on Technical Education, to show students how they can benefit from various Lagos State programmes,” Olawale added.
He commended the students and their leaders for their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, describing their engagement as a positive indicator of readiness to harness the opportunities shared during the programme.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr Tolani Sule, represented by Permanent Secretary Mr Adeniran Kasali, reaffirmed the state government determination to equip Lagos youths with the skills needed for future relevance.
Earlier, in a keynote lecture, Obayori said social entrepreneurship differs from neoliberal models that prioritise wealth accumulation, emphasising that students should embrace ventures rooted in responsibility, solidarity and collective well-being.
On her part, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, represented by Dr Abatan Fatai, urged students to prepare for the future stressing that readiness determines their relevance and opportunities.
“Students must deliberately prepare for the future,” Olatunji-Bello said.
He noted that the government remains committed to implementing programmes and policies that would empower young people to be fully prepared for the demands of the modern workforce and emerging economic realities.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mrs Adaranijo Rasheedat, reaffirmed the board’s unwavering commitment to supporting students.
Rasheedat noted that the board’s interventions were designed to ease learning and enhance academic success statewide.
Also, the Head of the Student Support Department of the ministry, Mrs Ibidapo-Obe Olubunmi, stressed that the future is never accidental.
“The future is shaped, defined, and refined by the deliberate actions taken today,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event with the theme: “Empowering Students as Agents of Innovation and Change,” drew students and student leaders from tertiary institutions across the state.