Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, expressed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every young person in the state has access to opportunities that will enable them to realise their full potential.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave this assurance while speaking at the On-Boarding Ceremony of 2,500 Interns of the Lagos State Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP), themed: “Igniting a Future of Opportunities and Excellence,” which took place at the Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, affirmed that youth empowerment is at the heart of the present administration’s agenda, noting that the state government recognizes that the future of Lagos depends on the investments it makes today in the young people.
“At the heart of our administration’s agenda is the empowerment of youth. We recognize that the future of Lagos depends on the investments we make today in our young people. Whether, through programmes like the GIPP, skills development initiatives, or youth-focused policies, we are committed to ensuring that every young person in Lagos has access to opportunities that will enable them to realize their full potentials,” the governor said.
According to Sanwo-Olu, his administration’s commitment is not just about creating jobs; but about creating pathways to success, and ensuring that every young person, regardless of their background, has the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive in their chosen careers.
The governor, while noting that Lagos State is a place of great potential, driven by a dynamic and youthful population, pointed out that his administration’s vision for Lagos was one of innovation, inclusion, and boundless opportunities, saying that “central to this vision is the empowerment of our youth.”
“This programme is more than an internship but is a platform for career growth, personal development, and professional excellence,” he said.
He further noted that the connections the interns of GIPP build, the experiences they gain, and the challenges they overcome during the period would shape their career trajectory and define their contribution to the growth of the state economy.
Furthermore, Sanwo-Olu hinted that the Internship Placement Programme was a testament to what both the government and citizens can achieve when they come together with a shared purpose, saying that empowering the youth was akin to building a brighter future for Lagos State and Nigeria.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while commending the partnership of private organizations for offering these internships, stated that they were not just providing work opportunities for the interns, but also investing in the future of Lagos and contributing to a collective vision where the youth were empowered, the economy was strengthened, while the state continued to thrive as a hub of innovation and opportunity.
Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, in his welcome address, stated that the programme marked a significant milestone in the journey to empower the youth of Lagos State and strengthen the employability landscape across the city, adding that it was also a move towards building a robust and sustainable economy through Youth empowerment and skill development.
Ajigbotafe said the Graduate Internship Placement Programme was designed to address one of the most pressing challenges facing young graduates today, such as the gap between academic qualifications and workplace readiness.
“Through this initiative, we aim to equip our graduates not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical skills, real-world experiences, and the confidence to excel in the job market,” the commissioner said.
He, therefore, urged the participants to make judicious use of the initiative with both hands, saying that they should remember that the future belonged to those who prepared for it.
“We are all eager to witness your progress, and we believe that each of you has the potential to excel and contribute to the growth of Lagos State,” Ajigbotafe said.
Speaking further, the commissioner noted that over the last three weeks, the 2,500 participants had undergone intensive training in employability skills -ranging from creative thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making, written and oral communication, teamwork interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, to self-organization and personal effectiveness, professional ethics and adaptability as well as orientation to service, among others.
He stressed that the interns were ready to take the next step by “enrolling for their internships, where they will continue to learn, grow, and contribute to their respective organizations.”
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Youth & Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, charged the graduands to take advantage of the internship, emphasizing that the sky is their foundation and no longer their limit, adding that “everything they had learned is supposed to add to what they already know to take them to the next level.”
He noted that as youths, they needed to continue to search for information, saying that making use of their gadgets was not just about TikTok videos, Instagram reels, Facebook but about looking for information.
“We all have our gadgets, it is not just about TikTok videos, Instagram reels, Facebook but it is about looking for information.
“Again, all these are testaments and affirmations to let you know that the government of Governor Sanwo-Olu is youth-centric and will continue to roll out youth programmes but it is for you to take advantage of it all,” he concluded.
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