Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has announced that his administration, through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), will train 10,000 residents in industry-relevant skills across key sectors including technology, construction, fashion, health, and business.
The Governor made this known at the Omniverse Africa Summit 3.0, themed “Connected Future: Synergy for Impact,” held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (National Theatre), Iganmu, Lagos. He was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the state government is deliberately investing in digital infrastructure and innovation-driven policies to strengthen economic growth and job creation. According to him, Lagos is expanding broadband access, digitising government services, building innovation clusters, and creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship to thrive at scale.
“Our administration has pursued these efforts deliberately under the THEMES+ Development Agenda,” he said. “We are not simply aspiring to be Africa’s technology hub; we are building the conditions that make that designation earned.”
He highlighted the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund as a central instrument in the state’s employment and entrepreneurship strategy, noting that it provides access to capital, training, and support for small businesses.
The Governor disclosed that in 2025 alone, the LSETF disbursed ₦1.91 billion in affordable loans to over 4,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), while also providing grants exceeding ₦23 million to 65 businesses to strengthen their operations.
He added that the Fund’s graduate internship programme has supported 2,500 young people with paid employment opportunities, while 1,050 persons with disabilities have benefited from entrepreneurship training and start-up tools, reflecting the state’s commitment to inclusion.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed that through a renewed partnership with the United States African Development Foundation, LSETF will train 10,000 Lagosians in skills aligned with emerging industry needs.
International partners at the summit also commended Nigeria’s growing digital economy. The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Gautier Mignot, noted that while Nigeria’s youthful population is a major asset, urgent job creation strategies are needed to match labour market demand.
Similarly, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, emphasized the importance of innovation, artificial intelligence, and green technology in shaping future economies, calling for stronger global collaboration to address shared challenges such as unemployment and climate change.
In his welcome remarks, Omniverse Africa Co-Convener, Charles Emembolu, stressed that Africa’s future depends on collaboration across governments, private institutions, and innovators, noting that the continent’s greatest resource is its people and their creativity.
