Lagos Equips 100 Youths With Event Planning Skills

By Sherif Salau

The Lagos State Government has graduated 100 young people in event planning and management, underscoring its drive to equip youths with practical skills that open doors to employment, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.

The beneficiaries completed the programme under the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment and were celebrated at the maiden Event Planning and Management Training Graduation Ceremony on Monday at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja. The event carried the theme “From Passion to Profession: Unlocking Opportunities in Event Planning.”

Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, told the gathering that the initiative, delivered in partnership with Zapphire Training School, seeks to channel the creativity and entrepreneurial energy of young Lagosians into sustainable livelihoods. He described the events industry as a fast-growing and competitive sector that demands creativity, professionalism, organisational skill, digital competence and financial discipline. These qualities, he said, position young people to build rewarding careers, launch businesses and create jobs for others.

In her keynote address, Hon. Stella Olufunke Osafile, Chairman of the House Committee on Wealth Creation and Employment, urged the graduates to treat event planning as a serious profession and viable business, not merely a creative pastime. Passion alone is not enough, she stressed; it must be matched by knowledge, discipline, professionalism and continuous learning. She encouraged the young people to look beyond seeking paid employment and instead position themselves as entrepreneurs and future employers.

Funke Bucknor, Managing Director and CEO of Zapphire Events, highlighted the programme’s strong practical focus. Participants moved from classroom instruction into hands-on internships with professional event teams, gaining direct experience in planning, production, coordination and on-site management. This approach, she explained, closes the gap between theory and real industry practice.

Bucknor noted that the events sector continues to expand and can generate businesses, careers and employment across multiple value chains, including catering, logistics, photography, production, entertainment and hospitality.