The Lagos State Government says it will equip 10,000 residents with industry-relevant skills as part of efforts to expand employment opportunities and strengthen the state’s growing digital and creative economy.
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, speaking through his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, made this known at the Omniverse Africa Summit 3.0 held in Lagos and organised in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
The programme, according to the government, will cut across technology, construction, fashion, health, and business sectors, with a focus on preparing residents for modern labour market demands.
Sanwo-Olu said the initiative aligns with the state’s THEMES+ Development Agenda, which prioritises innovation, infrastructure, education, and job creation. He added that the administration is simultaneously expanding broadband access, digitising public services, and building innovation hubs to support entrepreneurship.
“We are investing in broadband access, digitising government services, establishing innovation clusters, and building the policy environment that makes entrepreneurship viable at scale,” the governor said. “We are not simply aspiring to be Africa’s technology hub; we are building the conditions that make that designation earned.”
He described the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) as a central driver of employment creation and small business support in the state.
According to him, in 2025 alone, the agency disbursed ₦1.91 billion in affordable loans to over 4,000 MSMEs and provided more than ₦23 million in grants to 65 businesses. It also ran a graduate internship scheme that created paid opportunities for 2,500 young people.
He further disclosed that 1,050 persons with disabilities benefited from entrepreneurship training and start-up support, describing inclusion as a key pillar of Lagos’ economic strategy.
Sanwo-Olu also revealed that through a renewed partnership with the United States African Development Foundation, the state is on course to train 10,000 Lagos residents in practical, job-ready skills across multiple sectors.
“These figures show that when government intervenes deliberately and transparently, it can transform lives at scale,” he said.
At the summit themed “Connected Future: Synergy for Impact,” held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (National Theatre), stakeholders stressed the importance of collaboration in building Africa’s digital future.
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, noted that Nigeria’s youthful population presents both opportunities and challenges, urging stronger investment in job creation, especially within the digital and creative economy.
He said while traditional sectors remain important, they may not be enough to absorb the growing number of young job seekers entering the labour market each year.
Similarly, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, highlighting artificial intelligence and green technology as key drivers of future growth.
She noted that countries face shared challenges such as youth unemployment, climate change, and economic resilience, adding that these issues require stronger global partnerships.
Omniverse Africa Co-Convener, Charles Emembolu, said the summit reflects a shared belief that Africa’s future depends on collaboration and the strength of its human capital rather than isolated efforts.
He emphasized that initiatives like Omniverse Africa are designed to bridge gaps in access to capital, markets, and opportunities, enabling innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive across the continent.
