The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said his government is open to private partnerships and investment funding opportunities to reduce youth unemployment in the state.
Speaking when he received a delegation from Prince’s Trust International on a courtesy visit on Wednesday at the State House, Marina, Sanwo-Olu said the state government committed billions of naira to address youth unemployment, but the amount was not enough.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, the governor called for the support of charities and non-governmental organisations in the area of skills development.
“The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund has been doing a lot of great things in supporting local enterprises and startups, but we need to double the numbers in response to high demand and unemployment rates.
“Yearly, we have a large number of applicants waiting to use the funds to build new businesses and do a lot more.
“Given our large youth population, what we require is skill development.
“We can actually provide the space and double the resources required to develop these capable young people. We must be able to give this population the right skills and help them thrive in modern economic realities.
“This is where charities and other non-governmental organisations in the job ecosystem can provide support and interventions,” he was quoted as saying.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the charity’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Will Straw, disclosed that the charity had worked with the LSETF in the past 20 months and was ready to deepen its relationship with the agency.
Straw noted that the organisation had the ambition to “support thousands of young Nigerians and others across Africa.”
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