Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that the state had trained no fewer than 30,000 women and youths in its 19 skills acquisition centres in five years.
He gave the disclosure yesterday at a graduation ceremony for 5,309 students who graduated from the 2024/2025 session of its skills acquisition programmes under the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty, WAPA.
He said the state’s skills acquisition programmes were initiated to support young entrepreneurs with the needed skills and tools to start their businesses.
Sanwo-Olu identified entrepreneurship as one of the major means to tackle and alleviate poverty in the society.
The graduands were trained in diverse skills such as vulcanising, welding and aluminum fabrication.
Others are carpentry, photography, barbing, catering, hairdressing and bead and hat making, hairdressing, gele tying and makeup artistry among others.
They also received startup tools and certificates.
“This graduation ceremony is a gathering of vision and immense potential for the graduates of our skill centres across the state.
“It also highlights our committment as a government to engage our youths, especially women with skills to turn their life around for good.
“Over 30,000 students have graduated in the last five to six years from the 19 skills acquisition centres across the state and we remain committed to engage more,” the governor said.
He urged the students to make use of the skills and equipment they had received to change the narrative and be worthy ambassadors of the state.
He commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Bolaji Dada and her team for impacting the lives of the vulnerable in the society through their various activities.
Speaking also, the wife of the governor, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu advised the beneficiaries to see the empowerment as the beginning of a fresh future.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu said their perseverance during the training should be a symbol of hope to forge ahead in their chosen skills.
Also, the WAPA commissioner, who commended the beneficiaries for their resilience and hard work, said the training they had received would prepare them for the future.
She said the ministry’s inclusive developmental projects aligns with the THEMES agenda of the state to uplift vulnerable women and youths at the grassroots.
