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Lagos flags off 2020 internship programme, promises to pay N40,000 monthly to graduates.
Governor Sanwo-Olu flags off 2020 internship programme and advises interns to shun complacency.
Lagos State Government has flagged off the 2020 Lagos State Graduate Internship Placement Programme (LASGIPP).
According to the press release issued by the Lagos State Government, recounting key moments at the flag-off ceremony for the Internship Placement Programme (LASGIPP), on Tuesday at Radio Lagos/Eko FM Marquee, Governor Sanwo-Olu challenged graduates under the Graduate Internship Programme to prove their mettle at their various places of internship.
He assured them of a monthly stipend of N40,000 from the State Government, throughout the period of the internship. He called on the beneficiaries to aim for a higher goal of being financially independent, pursue the bigger picture of being Chief Executive Officers of their individual companies later in future, and not be contented with the stipend.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity, and gather enough experience that would serve as a buffer to securing paid employment or as independent entrepreneurs.
What they are saying
In his remark, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Wealth Creation, Mr. Jude Idimogu, expressed the belief that the engagement of the graduates as interns despite the myriad of challenges of Y2020 shows the genuine commitment of Governor Sanwo-Olu to gainfully engage the youths.
The Governor of Lagos State in his words said
“ The Graduate Internship Placement Programme we are flagging off today is one of the State government’s capacity building programmes developed to change the narrative about our graduates being unemployable and lacking the requisite work environment ethics and culture. It is a unique variant among the numerous programmes designed to reduce the increasing unemployment rate in the country and also accelerate the State’s post-COVID economic recovery.”
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu, also assured that applicants under the GIPP, who are yet to be captured, would be included in the subsequent editions of the Programme. In his words he said: “ Year 2021 would witness more of Youth friendly policies and increased engagements with the young generation and some stakeholders in the society, in addition to the promotion of grassroots sporting activities .”
Lagos State Government has flagged off the 2020 Lagos State Graduate Internship Placement Programme (LASGIPP).
According to the press release issued by the Lagos State Government, recounting key moments at the flag-off ceremony for the Internship Placement Programme (LASGIPP), on Tuesday at Radio Lagos/Eko FM Marquee, Governor Sanwo-Olu challenged graduates under the Graduate Internship Programme to prove their mettle at their various places of internship.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity, and gather enough experience that would serve as a buffer to securing paid employment or as independent entrepreneurs.
Bottom line
The State Government revealed that the Graduate Internship Placement Programme will help to find a sustainable solution to the issue of unemployment in the state and the persistent increase in the Country.
However, the most relevant statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics%20is%20a%20combined%2055.7%25.) reveals that Nigeria’s unemployment rate as at the second quarter of 2020 was 27.1%; this shows that about 21.7 million Nigerians remain unemployed, while 13.9 million Nigerian youths are unemployed.
It is important to note that the Graduate Internship Placement Programme set up by Lagos State is impressive, but the fact that only 4,000 beneficiaries will benefit from the program shows that the program is not yet inclusive enough, as many graduates with no means of livelihood remain uncaptured under this programme.
Lagos Internship Programme: Over 1,275 companies to accept post NYSC graduates
Over 1,275 companies have indicated willingness to accept 4,000 post NYSC graduates for internship programme.
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that over 1,275 companies have already indicated their willingness to accept 4,000 post NYSC graduates for an internship, which follows an earlier announcement by the Lagos State Government to engage unemployed graduates in the state for a 6-month internship programme.
This disclosure was made known by the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs Yewande Arobieke, on Friday, November 8, 2020, when she addressed a press conference on the year 2020 Lagos State Graduates Internship Placement Programme (LASGIPP) at Alausa, Ikeja, in the company of the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu.
Arobieke recalled that LASGIPP has so far been able to place about 2000 unemployed youths on internship – temporary and full employment with organizations like Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, WEMA Bank, Main One, Health Plus Ntel, Meyer Plc, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mantrac Nig. Ltd, Sterling Bank, Cars 45, and Lagos Tax Project among others.
She noted that the involvement of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in the internship programme is to give the needed leverage and opportunities to the beneficiaries, who are majorly youths, stressing that the present administration believes in inter-ministerial collaboration for quality governance.
She explained that the State Governor decided to increase the number of beneficiaries from the initial 2,000 unemployed graduates to 4,000 as a way of accommodating more beneficiaries for the internship programme.
According to her, the Lagos State Graduate Internship Placement Programme would offer unemployed post-NYSC graduate residents one-month intensive employability training to develop work-related skills and knowledge.
Arobieke said, “ This is in addition to six-months hands-on work experience with Private organisations and selected Ministries, Departments, and Agencies towards promoting their career and personal development, as well as, connect with the right opportunities to contribute to the State’s economy.”
She stated that the programme would also assist Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and other companies to choose from the State’s database of groomed talents/interns, to enhance productivity and boost their businesses, thereby promoting economic growth at no cost, through the intervention of the State Government.
On the method of application, the Commissioner affirmed that applications are invited from unemployed graduates with a minimum of Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma and must be a resident of any of the 57 Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas (LGA/LCDAs) of the State.
She added, “ All applicants must have completed their NYSC programme or exempted with proof, and must show evidence of their residence in the State with their ID issued by Lagos State Resident Registration Agency (LASRRA).”
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu, said that the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and other relevant MDAs are also working together to provide employment and empowerment opportunities for other residents of the state.
He advised the youths to take advantage of the internship programme, saying that it is through their registration with the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment that the State Government would be able to have data of the unemployed and plan for them accordingly.
LSETF, USADF enter into $10m partnership to support 15,000 youth in Lagos over 5 years
LSETF, USADF enter into $10m partnership to support 15,000 youth in Lagos over 5 years. In line with its mandate to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Lagos residents, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States African Development Fund (USADF) to support 15,000 youth in the State.
Through this MoU, both parties will provide the equal sum of $2 million dollars every year for five (5) years ($10m in total) to provide skill development and internship opportunities to 3,000 youth between the ages of 18-35, yearly. Women will represent at least 50% of the beneficiaries.
The signing ceremony which took place in Washington DC, United States of America had top executives of both agencies, members of the U.S Congress, partners and
international media present. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mrs. Ifueko M.
Omoigui Okauru , Chairman, LSETF’s Board of Trustees, expressed her optimism on the impact of the partnership. “This USADF-LSETF collaboration will enable the expansion of world-class vocational training centers available in the state; the development of 15,000 skilled youth for employment into targeted sectors; the provision of internship cost subsidies to employers and; track real time placement of unemployed youth into jobs”.
In line with its mandate to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Lagos residents, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States African
Development Fund (USADF) to support 15,000 youth in the State.
Through this MoU, both parties will provide the equal sum of $2 million dollars every year for five (5) years ($10m in total) to provide skill development and internship opportunities to 3,000 youth between the ages of 18-35, yearly. Women will represent at least 50% of the beneficiaries.
The signing ceremony which took place in Washington DC, United States of America had top executives of both agencies, members of the U.S Congress, partners and
international media present. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mrs. Ifueko M.
Omoigui Okauru , Chairman, LSETF’s Board of Trustees, expressed her optimism on the impact of the partnership. “This USADF-LSETF collaboration will enable the expansion of world-class vocational training centers available in the state; the development of 15,000 skilled youth for employment into targeted sectors;
the provision of internship cost subsidies to employers and; track real time placement of unemployed youth into jobs”.
In her remarks, Teju Abisoye , Acting Executive Secretary, (LSETF, said that “With the recent Labor Force Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing a 6.7% drop in unemployment rate as well as Lagos state providing the largest number of 740,146 jobs in the third quarter of 2018, it is obvious that the deliberate employment intervention policies of the Lagos State Government are finally impacting on job creation. I am pleased to have USADF join us to create more jobs for our youth, whilst sustainably decreasing our alarming unemployment rate”
Also commenting, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States African Development Foundation, C. D Glin stated that, “We are proud to be in partnership with the LSETF, whose programmes have been independently verified to be making impact on the lives of young Nigerians. This USADF-LSETF partnership further expands our existing commitment to investing in high impact initiatives hinged on generating income, providing financial solutions and causing a change in the African economy.”
The initiative includes training of participants and provision of internship opportunities over a period of six (6) months and is expected to result in sustainable job and entrepreneurship opportunities.
About Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF)
Established in 2016, LSETF’s vision is to create employment and entrepreneurship
opportunities to reduce unemployment in Lagos State. LSETF focuses on promoting
entrepreneurship by improving access to finance, strengthening the institutional
capacity of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), formulating policies and
actively intervening to improve the business environment. The Fund also trains and places unemployed Lagos residents in jobs, while also driving innovation within the Lagos
ecosystem.
About the United States African Development Foundation (USADF)
USADF is the U.S. Government’s African enterprise development agency. The agency
invests in grassroots, small, and growing businesses; promotes local economic
development; and creates pathways to prosperity for underserved communities. Utilizing
a community-led development approach, USADF provides seed capital and local
project management assistance to early stage enterprises addressing local challenges
such as food security, energy access, and women and youth employment. Annually,
USADF’s grant assistance for enterprise development and expansion generates
approximately $100 million in new local economic activity throughout 20 African
countries.