Lagos Launches Initiative To Tackle Youth Unemployment, Target 2,000
By Sherif Salau
The Lagos State Government has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other stakeholders to equip 2,000 youths with vocational, digital and entrepreneurial skills under the third phase of the Lagos State Employability Support Programme (LSESP).
The initiative is designed to improve employment prospects, promote self-reliance and expand access to economic opportunities for unemployed and underemployed residents across the state.
Implemented in collaboration with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, the programme will target young people between the ages of 18 and 45, as well as existing business owners.
Participants will undergo specialised training in four key areas: digital skills, leather works, compressed natural gas (CNG) and renewable energy, as well as capacity development for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The training modules were selected following consultations with employers and industry stakeholders to ensure that beneficiaries acquire practical competencies relevant to current labour market demands.
Beyond technical instruction, the programme will provide mentorship, internship opportunities and connections to potential employers and business markets.
Organisers said the initiative would prioritise practical learning and workplace readiness, rather than limiting participants to conventional classroom instruction.
The third phase builds on the achievements of previous editions, which reportedly provided training for more than 8,000 young people.
According to programme organisers, over 80 per cent of certified graduates enrolled in the job-matching system were linked with employers, while some beneficiaries received start-up kits and stipends to support their transition into entrepreneurship.
The latest intervention comes amid persistent unemployment and underemployment among young people in Lagos, despite the state’s position as Nigeria’s leading commercial and economic centre.
By focusing on sectors with growing employment and business potential, the programme seeks to address the mismatch between available skills and the demands of employers.
For the beneficiaries, the initiative is expected to create opportunities beyond acquiring certificates, with access to jobs, business support and the networks required to establish sustainable sources of income.
The state government and its development partners hope the programme will strengthen youth participation in the economy while creating a workforce better equipped to respond to emerging employment opportunities.
