- By LAGOS WEALTH CREATION & EMPLOYMENT Commissioner
- Talks About The Activities Of Her Ministry
I stand before you to give an account of the achievements of the Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment in the last one Year.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY UNDER REVIEW
There is the Virtual Market platform project which is an online portal being created to connect skilled Artisans and Tradesmen with customers in need of their goods and services in a secure environment is one of the initiatives of the Ministry aimed at bringing development to the Artisans/Tradesmen sector.
The portal is also designed to address challenges faced by those in this sector by facilitating access to market and finance. Factored into the platform also includes room for skills improvement (training-vocational, numeracy and literacy) to bridge the deficit skills gap which has plagued the sector.
The Ministry is collaborating with different Stakeholders for the actualization of the initiative for the development of the Virtual Market platforms.
ARTISANS TRAINING
Under the Tradesmen and Artisans Capacity Building Scheme, 1000 Artisans were re-trained last year (2017) in collaboration with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB). The Capacity Building Scheme was to equip the participants with technical and entrepreneurial skills with a view to enhancing their efficiency, competitiveness and productivity. It was held for eight weekends across the State in 5, Centres, Ado-Soba, Agidingbi, Epe, Ikotun and Ikorodu.
In addition, 40 members of Lagos State House Painters Association were trained and engaged by KANSA! PLASCON Nigeria a paint manufacturer.
Sustainable Development Programme with Ruff ‘N’ Tumble (Betti-O School of Fashion)
The main aim is to train young people in the art of fashion designing and garment making and also train them in soft skills such as leadership and entrepreneurial skills. The Ministry is set to achieve innovative solution that create jobs, improve livelihood, increase income, and contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The training will provide a platform to those who want to make their future bright with passion for fashion, participants will undergo Classroom Training, Practical Training, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Seminars, Visual Merchandizing and display trainings, Runway Training on setting up and building structure for first time garment entrepreneurs.
YABAICT HUB
The Lagos State Government recognizes that the emergence of new technologies has created an opportunity to address the needs of society to attain sustainable growth and development. The growing number of technopreneurs which is taking root in the state is strongly drawing the attention of capalatlists and more established digitals firms to the state.
Lagos State Government, through the collaboration of Ministry of Wealth Creation and other relevant Stakeholders would be establishing an ICT hub in Yaba. In same vein, Lagos State Government collaborated with Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (JHU-SAIS) to explore opportunities in the area of youth entrepreneurship and technological innovation in Lagos State. The partnership focused on convening a forum to give Techpreneurs opportunity to pitch to an audience that would include but not limited to venture capitalists, industry experts, US based Techpreneurs and academia.
PRODUCTION OF ARTISANS COMPENDIUM
Another unique feature of Y2017 Artisans Day Celebration was the Launch of the first Edition of Tradesmen and Artisans COMPENDIUM, which is a compilation of the lists of registered members of the various Associations in the state in a single document, which was done by His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
ARTISANS SUPPORT
At the event, the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA), the Umbrella body of all registered Tradesmen and Artisans Associations in Lagos State was given the following by the State Government – • An annual subvention of 12 million naira was instituted • A 14 Seater Toyota Hiace Bus.
DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH SMEs
The Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has designed a framework for the development of Health SMEs in Lagos State and also secured approval of the State Executive Council for the programs’ implementation which is about to commence. The idea behind this project is to facilitate quality improvement in both public and private sector health facilities through the provision of financial support with the support of private sector organizations with the aim of creating wealth and employment.
ENTREPRENUERSHIP TRAINING
The Ministry is partnering with different Stakeholders for the provision of Cocational and Entrepreneurship training for unemployed youths across the state such as YAWEC, Young Entrepreneurs Foundation for Africa etc.
Over 1500 youths have been trained through these initiative, in addition 500 new members of the Lagos State Tie & Dye Association were trained in collaboration with the Ministry, as well as 350 members of Lagos State Tailors and Fashion Designers Association were also trained on Leadership and Entrepreneurial skills.
GRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME (GIP)
The Ministry initiated the Graduate Internship Programme which is designed to expose interns to particular jobs, profession or industry. It is an avenue for creating a network contact between the Off-takers and the interns in order to improve and enhance their formal education, acquired knowledge and skills with first-hand workplace skills and experience (teamwork, initiative, analytical thinking and communication).
Y2018 Breakfast Meeting was held in the month of March 2018, to meet with prospective employers in order to carry them along and update the off-takers on the activities planned for Y2018 internship programme.
The Ministry is planning to hold a Mindset Re-orientation programme for 2,000 unemployed youths in Lagos State, the programme will include, Employability Skills Training, Career counseling, effective C.V writing, developing effective interview Skills and Job Hunting Strategy for the invited interns and Job fair as soon as possible.
Y2017 JOB FAIR IN IKORODU
The initiative is an employment strategy that allows for interaction between job seekers and employers with the purpose of exchanging ideas and information on employment opportunities. The first Job Fair of the Ministry was held in collaboration with Jimi Benson Foundation and Mactay Consulting on the 17th of October, 2017. Over (27) twenty-seven Off-takers were present and (151) One hundred and fifty-one potential interns attended the programme.
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS TRAINING
The Ministry collaborated with West Africa Vocational Education Academy (WAVE) to train unemployed Youths on Employability Skills and job opportunities for 3-weeks. The Training of the youths in soft skills as time management, problem solving, team work, managing expectations etc. in selected locations in Lagos State and environs – Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Ikorodu, Ojo, Ifelodun, Shomolu. The participants of the Lagos State Employability Skills Training graduated after 2 weeks intensive training and 1 week Job shadow in various organisations. Over 254 were trained through the Wave Employability Skills Training in (7) Seven Local Government. (40) Forty graduates were matched to WAVE jobs, while others were equally employed by various organizations.
THE JOB REGISTRATION/LABOUR EXCHANGE
CENTRES (LECs)
The Job Registration/Labour Exchange Centres (LECs) aimed at providing varieties of wealth creation and employment services with the state government giving focus on career counselling as a key activity of the LEC to enable aspiring youths pursue the right career choice according to their attitude and passion. The LEC offices in the five divisions are now fully functional with 22 Guidance Counsellors, who collate the data of unemployed youths at the Centres, which are mostly used for the Employability Skills Training, Graduate Internship Programme and National Directorate Skills Training. Registration of unemployed youth is still on-going in all the Labour Exchange Centres across the State. Presently there is an on-going re-updating of the registration portal.
Startup innovation framework
- We launched our Innovation-Driven Enterprise Program tagged “Lagos Innovates” in December 2017. Lagos Innovates is a series of programs designed for the benefit of technology – and innovation-driven startups in Lagos State. By providing access to high quality infrastructure, learning, capital and networks, Lagos Innovates will cement Lagos’ position as the leading destination for startups in Africa.
- EMPLOYABILITY
There is a Project titled “Lagos State Employability Support Project” through which 10,000 skilled persons will be produced in a three-year period to cater for demand in key sectors such as Manufacturing, Health-care, Construction, Entertainment, Garment Making and Tourism and Hospitality • In addition, the project will place at least 6,000 trained persons in jobs and upgrade the equipment and improve the curriculum at two of LASTVEB’s Colleges namely; Govemment Technical College Epe and Government Technical College, Ikorodu • The project’s website (www.lsesp.ng) and application portal was launched in October 2017.
- INTERVENTIONS
We held a Policy Forum on Enhancing the Ease of Doing Business in Lagos State in September 2017, where challenges that affect the ease of doing business and possible solutions/interventions were discussed.
We also intervened in several small businesses by assisting them in securing operating licenses in LGAs and LCDAs, resolving conflicts between businesses and Local Governments, and supporting businesses by facilitating meetings with the appropriate government agencies.
- off take initiatives
There are also Off take Initiatives, to facilitate private sector off take, public sector off take and export, the Fund executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LASPPA), to support initiatives and workshops aimed at promoting made in Lagos goods. The fund organized a total of 7 workshops in the period on how to export, bid-writing and understanding the public procurement process in Lagos.
Pharm. (Mrs.) UzamatAkinbile-Yussuf Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment
ITESIWAJU IPINLE EKO LO JE WA LOGUN.
