Press Releases

LASG Disburses N177m To 4028 Graduands Of State’s Skill Acquisition, Vocational Centres

Oct 10, 2008 - The Lagos State Government Friday disbursed N177million among 4028 students who graduated from the various Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centres across the state as start-up loans to finance their businesses.

The disbursement which took place at a colourful Graduation and Empowerment Ceremony at the LTV 8 Main Arena, Agidingbi Ikeja, came barely two weeks after the Government also disbursed a total of N850million to a set of 5000 beneficiaries of the State’s micro finance scheme.

Speaking at the event, the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) reiterated the commitment of his administration to making the people the cornerstone of its policies.

Governor Fashola told the thousands of graduating youths and their parents, “Our Government exists for the people. Our party, the Action Congress, advocates democracy forever, democracy is about people because it is the government of the people by the people and for the people”.

“As we build roads, bridges, jetties and bus routes, we are conscious that we build them for the people and that is why we are more concerned and more determined to make critical investment in education and healthcare to enlighten our people and keep them from disease and sickness”, the Governor said.

He said the decision of his administration to invest in the people was informed by the realization that large scale entrepreneurship and jobs were the twin battle fronts through which poverty and hunger could be dealt a devastating blow, adding, “Only those who have skills get jobs and only those that are educated can acquire skills”.

Noting that each of the 4028 graduands would automatically become self dependent and self-supporting to start their businesses, the Governor declared, “We are, therefore, not only creating skilled and healthy graduands, we are graduating self-dependent, self-employed people who are also employers of labour”.

The Governor noted with pleasure that even as the fortunes of the global world and free market economy was recording decline, job loss and bank crash, the Lagos State Government was creating jobs in the State and in Nigeria with every programme it has embarked upon in the last 500 days.

“We have created jobs in a most unprecedented manner through road construction, beautification, tree planting, PSP refuse managers, BRT, Corporate Cab Ventures, LMDGP Slum Clearance, Town planning and Urban Development regulation”, Governor Fashola recalled, adding, “Indeed the Lagos economy is experiencing a great leap”.

Advising the graduands to use their newly acquired skills and the empowerment to better their lot and those of others for the overall development of the State, the Governor advised,” We are giving you an opportunity we did not have. We were trained to study and look for jobs. We recognize today how much the world has changed, therefore, we are determined to prepare you for the future by training you to create jobs for yourselves and others rather than wait for jobs to be created.”

Congratulating the graduands and wishing them the very best of successes beyond their imagination in all their undertaking, the Governor urged them “As you go out their and prosper in your businesses, remember to pay your tax so that the state would also move forward”.

In his goodwill message, the First Lady and wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, enjoined the graduands to go into the business world with courage and hope pointing out that there were limitless opportunities for those who are hardworking, creative and passionately committed to their vocations.

Represented by wife of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji, the First Lady advised, “It is very important for you to know that the skill and training which you have received is not an end in itself but a means to an end. The challenges before you now are to translate the skill you have acquired into a successful business enterprise that will provide you and your family a source of livelihood and also employment opportunities for other.”

Also in his goodwill message, the Oba of Egbedaland, Oba (Dr) Samson Balogun implored the graduands and beneficiaries of the State Government’s empowerment funds to reciprocate the good gesture of the government by making maximum use of the skills acquired and judicious use of loans given to them to enhance continuity.

Other royal fathers, who gave their goodwill messages at the occasion, including the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu 1, and Oba Akran of Badagry, thanked the State Government for its laudable people-oriented programmes and enjoined the beneficiaries to be committed in their various businesses so as to contribute meaningfully to the development of the State.

Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon (Mrs.) Joke Orelope-Adefulire said the decision of the State Government to promote the establishment of vocational and skill training centres across the State was informed by the need to bridge the gap between young school leavers, drop outs and other vulnerable young men and women who were not academic inclined and those who were not able to pursue their educational goals due to poverty and who might constitute themselves into security threat in the community.

The Commissioner thanked Governor Fashola “for his unflinching support for the various programmes we have put in place for the social development and empowerment of our youths in Lagos State”, while also acknowledging the support and cooperation of her colleagues in the State Executive Council towards the success of the programme.

Congratulating the graduands and their families for the successful completion of the programme, the Commissioner declared, “I urge you to use this opportunity provided by our administration to become employers of labour and also generate wealth for the benefit of your families and the community”.