The Commissioner for the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, has disclosed that the administration of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has continued to empower residents through strategic wealth creation and employment initiatives implemented within the past year.
Ajigbotafe made this known on Thursday during the ongoing annual Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre. The briefing forms part of activities commemorating the third anniversary of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
According to the Commissioner, the interventions were designed to address unemployment, promote inclusive economic growth, and equip residents with practical and industry-relevant skills capable of fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable job creation across the State.
Providing a breakdown of the achievements, Ajigbotafe revealed that the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund disbursed over ₦1.9 billion in affordable loans and grants to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of efforts to stimulate entrepreneurship, support business sustainability, and deepen economic inclusion.
He disclosed that affordable loans worth ₦1.91 billion were provided to 4,036 MSMEs, while grants valued at ₦23.6 million were awarded to 65 businesses to support expansion and operational growth.
Speaking on the Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP), the Commissioner described the initiative as a major success aimed at reducing youth unemployment by placing graduates in internship opportunities after a three-week soft skills training programme.
According to him, beneficiaries received monthly stipends of ₦60,000 to support transportation and other basic needs during the three-month internship period. He noted that the programme not only exposed participants to valuable workplace experience but also provided businesses with access to skilled manpower to support productivity and growth.
The Commissioner also stated that over 570 participants were trained across various creative disciplines including Disc Jockeying (DJ), music production, sound engineering, and music scoring. The training featured both theoretical and practical sessions, providing participants with hands-on industry experience in their respective fields.
Ajigbotafe further highlighted the implementation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme aimed at equipping youths with industry-relevant competencies for sustainable livelihood opportunities.
In addition, he disclosed that 100 participants benefited from the Event Planning Empowerment Programme implemented in partnership with Zapphire Training School. The three-month capacity-building initiative was designed to equip youths with practical skills in event planning and management through a structured blend of theoretical and hands-on training facilitated by industry experts.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to implementing impactful programmes and strategic partnerships that promote youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, economic inclusion, and sustainable wealth creation across Lagos State.