The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule, has said that the state government has resolved to promote enterprise education, create wealth as well as job opportunities for Lagos youths through technical education.
According to her, entrepreneurship plays an influential role in the economic growth and standard of living of the country.
Adebule said that was why the state created the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment with significant attention on building technical skills and entrepreneurial capacity of Lagos youths.
The deputy governor disclosed this at the 5th Lagos State Enterprise Day organised by the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board with the theme: “Entrepreneurship And Wealth Creation for Economies, Organisation and People.”
Adebule, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s office, Mrs. Yetunde Odejayi, added that the state made sure the curriculum for entrepreneurship education in the technical colleges in the state were all-encompassing in developing the spirit and culture of entrepreneurship in students.
“The methods and pedagogies for teaching and learning entrepreneurship is quite different from that of conventional subjects such as mathematics, English and other subjects; that is the reason, recently fifty instructors in the five Government Technical Colleges participated in a one week entrepreneurship development programme facilitated by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, to help prepare them for entrepreneurship education,” she said.
Pointing out that getting involved in entrepreneurship at a young age was something that could have impact on the lives of young people in a way that not many other activities could do, she said it improved communication skills, decision making and goal setting abilities of youths for national development.
“With this in the mind of the current administration, gave birth to the Young Entrepreneurs Club formed three years ago in tandem with our government’s efforts to increase the supply of young and knowledgeable entrepreneurs with the motto: “Do not search but create a job yourself,” she said.
Adebule, however, called for the support of the private sector in partnership with the state government to nurture the innovative and entrepreneurial ideas by the youths, adding that the vibrancy and tenacity of these youths in incubating business ideas depended on their support.
Earlier in her remarks, the Executive Secretary of LASTVEB, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, assured the gathering of the state’s commitment to continue to place significant emphasis on the young people and as a result, “the board has implemented several programmes to support our youths.”
She urged the young people at the event to become true entrepreneurs and to bring forward new ideas and innovative solutions to the technological development of the state and the nation at large.
“The world is constantly changing with new opportunities emerging all the time and the true entrepreneur will make use of them. That is why the state government has approved three more technical colleges in line with the vision of technological development,” She said.
The keynote speaker, who is also the Registrar, Association of Corporate Governance Professionals of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Mosaku-Johnson, said the problem with entrepreneurship development in the state was not creating wealth or business, but the issue of sustainability.
He urged budding entrepreneurs to remain focused and disciplined because, according to him, this was the only way they could sustain their businesses and finances.
The registrar also called on government at all levels to emulate Lagos State by creating an enabling environment for small scale businesses to strive and this, he said, would help the economy of the country.
Other speakers included Mrs. Fayo Williams, Mr. Ademola Adeoye and an alumnus of Government Technical College, Agindingbi, Lagos, Mr. Oluwafemi Salami.
Over 500 participants were at the event.