The Lagos State Government has announced plans to train 10,000 residents in industry-relevant skills across technology, construction, fashion, health and business sectors through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu disclosed this during the Omniverse Africa Summit 3.0 held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The summit was organised by Omniverse Africa in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund under the theme, “Connected Future: Synergy for Impact.”
The Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said the initiative forms part of the state government’s broader effort to prepare Lagos residents for opportunities in fast-growing sectors of the economy.
According to him, the state government is not only focusing on entrepreneurship financing but is also investing heavily in digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems and skills development that can position Lagos as a leading technology and business hub in Africa.
He explained that the programme will be implemented through a renewed partnership between the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF).
Sanwo-Olu said the planned training will target practical and industry-relevant skills capable of improving employability, supporting small businesses and helping young people compete in both local and global markets.
“Our administration has pursued these efforts deliberately under the THEMES+ Development Agenda. We are investing in broadband access, digitising government services, establishing innovation clusters, and building the policy environment that makes entrepreneurship viable at scale,” he said.
“We are not simply aspiring to be Africa’s technology hub; we are building the conditions that make that designation earned.”
The Governor described the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund as one of the major institutions driving the state’s employment and entrepreneurship strategy.
According to him, LSETF continues to support thousands of businesses and young professionals through access to funding, vocational support and workforce development programmes.
He revealed that in 2025 alone, the agency disbursed about ₦1.91 billion in affordable loans to more than 4,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operating across Lagos State.
Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that grants worth over ₦23 million were provided to 65 businesses to support business expansion and improve resilience amid economic challenges.
The Governor further stated that the graduate internship programme under LSETF created paid employment opportunities for 2,500 young people, while stipends were provided monthly to support participants entering the labour market.
He added that inclusion remains an important part of the state’s economic development strategy, noting that the Fund had empowered 1,050 persons with disabilities through entrepreneurship training and the provision of start-up tools.
“And through a renewed partnership with the United States African Development Foundation, LSETF is on course to train 10,000 Lagosians in industry-relevant skills across technology, construction, fashion, health, and business,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“These figures matter because they represent a model: that when government intervenes deliberately, transparently, and with genuine accountability to outcomes, it changes lives at scale.”
The announcement comes at a time when many young Nigerians are seeking practical skills and alternative career opportunities amid rising unemployment and increasing demand for digital and technical expertise.
Technology, fashion, healthcare support services and skilled construction work have continued to attract attention as some of the sectors with growing employment potential in Nigeria’s evolving economy.
Speaking at the summit, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Gautier Mignot, also stressed the importance of Nigeria’s digital and creative economy in addressing youth unemployment.
According to him, Nigeria’s youthful population remains one of the country’s strongest advantages, but sustainable job creation must remain a priority as more young people enter the labour market yearly.
“With a large population under the age of 40, Nigeria possesses remarkable vitality, innovation, and resourcefulness,” he said.
“Though the traditional sectors such as agriculture, industry, and extractive activities remain important, they alone may not sufficiently address this challenge, but the rapidly expanding digital and creative economy is a viable pathway for growth and employment.”
The latest LSETF training plan is expected to further strengthen Lagos State’s push towards digital transformation, entrepreneurship development and workforce readiness in sectors considered critical to future economic growth.
