With a target to empower about 300 people per cohort, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), in partnership with King’s Trust International (KTI) and Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD), is equipping young Lagosians at the Get Hired Recruitment Fair.

Aside from equipping them with employability skills, they also connect them with meaningful job opportunities.

The event, held at the NECA House in Lagos, brought together employer partners, development organisations, graduates and young job seekers in a shared effort to bridge the gap between talent and employment opportunities.

Executive Director of Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD), Omowale Ogunrinde, highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships in creating sustainable opportunities for young people across Lagos and Nigeria.

She commended LSETF and King’s Trust International for their continued investment in youth development and job creation.

Ogunrinde also recognised the role of employer partners whose support has provided pathways for young graduates to transition into the workforce through internships and permanent employment opportunities.

“There would be little value in training young people if no opportunities were waiting for them afterwards. Our employer partners continue to make a difference by opening their doors and creating pathways for growth,” she said.

On how the young people were prepared for the fair, the FSD boss said: “We bring them together, train them on a WhatsApp digital programme to teach them on soft skills, like self-confidence, self-awareness, time management, how to write CVs, how to get ready for interviews, and problem-solving. We bring them for a few days, and they do the modules online, then we have the fair. This is a combination of what we have done in the last few weeks.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary of LSETF, Feyisayo Alayande, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to preparing young people for workplace success through practical, industry-focused interventions.

According to her, the Get Hired Programme was designed to connect work-ready youths with real opportunities in the labour market through a blended learning approach that combines digital and physical learning experiences.

She said as LSETF continues to drive initiatives that support skills development and employment creation, the programme remains a strong example of collective action delivering meaningful impact and creating pathways to economic inclusion for young people.

Alayande expressed appreciation to King’s Trust International for its continued partnership and commitment to youth empowerment, and commended Field of Skills and Dreams for its dedication and expertise in implementing the programme.

The second cohort of the programme onboarded 300 young people, with over 160 participants completing the empowerment days training. More than 20 employers also participated in the recruitment fair, creating direct engagement opportunities for participants and increasing pathways to employment.

Stakeholders affirmed that the event further underscored the importance of collaboration between government, development partners, employers, and implementing organisations in creating sustainable employment opportunities and improving the prospects of young Nigerians.