The Lagos State Government says it will train 10,000 residents in industry-relevant skills as part of a major push to tackle unemployment and strengthen the state’s innovation-driven economy.
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu disclosed this through his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, at the Omniverse Africa Summit 3.0, held in Lagos and organised in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
The training programme will cut across technology, construction, fashion, health, and business sectors, aimed at preparing participants for emerging job opportunities and entrepreneurship.
Sanwo-Olu said the initiative is part of the state’s THEMES+ Development Agenda, which prioritises education, technology, infrastructure, and job creation. He added that Lagos is investing heavily in broadband expansion, digital governance, innovation hubs, and policies that support small and medium-scale enterprises.
According to him, the government is deliberately building systems that position Lagos as a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa.
“Our administration has pursued these efforts deliberately under the THEMES+ Development Agenda,” he said. “We are investing in broadband access, digitising government services, establishing innovation clusters, and building the policy environment that makes entrepreneurship viable at scale.”
He described LSETF as a key instrument for reducing unemployment by expanding access to funding, training, and business support for residents.
The governor revealed that in 2025, the fund disbursed ₦1.91 billion in affordable loans to over 4,000 MSMEs and provided grants worth more than ₦23 million to 65 businesses. It also supported 2,500 young people through its graduate internship programme with monthly stipends.
He further noted that 1,050 persons with disabilities were empowered through entrepreneurship training and start-up support, reinforcing the government’s inclusion drive.
Sanwo-Olu also confirmed that through a renewed partnership with the United States African Development Foundation, the state is on track to train 10,000 Lagosians in practical, industry-relevant skills.
“These figures matter because they show that deliberate and transparent government intervention can change lives at scale,” he said.
The summit, themed “Connected Future: Synergy for Impact,” was held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (National Theatre), bringing together policymakers, diplomats, and industry leaders.
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, highlighted Nigeria’s youthful population as both a major advantage and a development challenge, urging stronger efforts to create sustainable jobs, especially in the digital economy.
He noted that traditional sectors alone may not absorb the growing number of young job seekers, stressing the importance of expanding opportunities in technology and creative industries.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, also reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, noting that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and green innovation are reshaping global economies.
She said countries must work together to address shared challenges such as youth unemployment, climate change, and economic instability through stronger partnerships.
Omniverse Africa Co-Convener, Charles Emembolu, said the summit underscores the need for collaboration in unlocking Africa’s human capital potential, noting that the continent’s greatest resource is its people.
He added that bridging gaps in access to capital, markets, and opportunities remains essential for driving sustainable development across Africa.
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