Commissioner tasks unemployed youth on skill acquisition

The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Pharmacist Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf has advised Nigerian youths, especially those seeking employment to acquire soft skills in order to fit into the current paradigm shift in the labour market.

The Commissioner, who made the call today at the Youth Entrepreneurship Mentoring Seminar organised by the Ministry, observed that following the paradigm shift, most employers now emphasize individuals’ skill as against certificate qualifications.

She said that the current administration is committed to reducing the rate of unemployment by encouraging the people to be self-employed, adding that the realization prompted the establishment of Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, among other intervention, to champion development, create wealth and employ the people of the State.

Akinbile-Yusuf also disclosed that the Ministry is collaborating with Betti-O Foundation School of Fashion, an arm of ‘Ruff N Tumble’ for the training of 50 youths in the art of fashion design and garments under its Sustainable Enterprise Development Programme, just as it had also concluded partnership with Auto-Medics to train technicians so as to meet the challenges of modern automobile repairs.

“In a bid to encourage the growth and development of Entrepreneurship as the catalyst for economic growth as well as solve the problem of access to capital, the State Government established the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) aimed at providing affordable credit to assist entrepreneurs in implementing their business ideas thereby providing the mechanism for stimulating growth, reducing unemployment as well as addressing youth restiveness”, the Commissioner said.

She explained that the various measures of the government in the area of empowerment are aimed at raising the skill level of entrepreneurs to match the demands and needs of the society, especially with new technologies being developed around the world.

One of the facilitators at the event, Mr. Lanre Oniyitan of Holistic Business Solutions, admonished the participants to leverage on the opportunity of being graduates to do things better than not too literate persons.

He maintained that there is always a business angle to every human activity and challenged the youth to explore the business opportunities based on their identified skills in order to make a living with it.

You can only get into political office through godfathrism - Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef

.. Reveals alternative to godfathrism.
...hails bountiful foundation for its selfless service to Nation Building

The latest edition of Mentoring TimeOut with Bountiful recorded another success with scores of quality and matured personalities from all walks of life graced the session  on Sunday at Mr. Biggs Multi Purpose Hall, Garage, Ogba Agege.

Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef  who was the special guest, clears the air on germane issues rocking the country politically at the program tagged: Youth Maximising Partisan and Corporate Politics.


Dr. AbdulLateef having reviewed a book written by young political aspirant, Bisi Ogunwale titled: 'Stepping Out' revealed that the new generation of young politicians can't do away with godfathrism in getting into political office, noting that structure and the platform had always been heavily invested on and to hijack the structure would be taxing.

However, he stated an alternative to godfathrism syndrome, noting that it is by building and investing in a particular new political party system that would share the same ideology with the aspirants vision and finds its place in electorates heart over time.


He stressed that, "It's better to be in business and also participates in active politics rather than being active in a spiral of silence or being a social media critic."



The Lagos commissioner in his statement lauds Bountiful Foundation for selfless service and creating a platform not only to make leaders but to nurture leaders in our dear country.


According to Mr. Bisi Ogunwale, Guest and Author of "Stepping Out", a book written to share his political experiences while seeking political office in Nigeria.


Mr. Bisi urged young politician to participate in healthy politics rather than subscribing to a do or die game of politics.


He noted that politics is about been loyal, and ability to identify stakeholders in politics and give  them their dues.