Lagos State Government has said that it will be engaging graduates of its technical colleges in what may be called a ‘Maintenance Gang’ initiative to be unveiled next for maintenance and renovation works of public schools across the state.

The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, made this known yesterday at the graduation ceremony of NECA-ITF Technical Skills Development Project of Students of Government Technical College, Ikorodu at NECA Auditorium, Alausa Ikeja.

According to Adebule, the technical and vocational education had produced qualified competent and skilled youth in the state.

She said, “At this point of huge youth unemployment, innovative solutions that could transform the economy of the nation are imperative and technical- vocational education is a tool to inspire the youths to achieve their full potential.” She added that the present administration in the state is seriously exploring all available avenues to encourage the growth of young entrepreneurs and as such, has decided to engage graduates of its colleges as against awarding renovation and maintenance works that could be handled by these sets of young entrepreneurs to contracting firms.

Adebule commended NECA and ITF for creating the platform for the graduates of the state technical colleges to be competently skilled and for giving them adequate entrepreneurial trainings that would make them actualise their dreams as entrepreneurs.

While enjoining the graduands to make the best of the skills acquired by justifying the huge resources that have been invested in them, the deputy governor called for more support from successful entrepreneurs and business moguls in bridging the large skills gap deficiency.

“I therefore call on people of goodwill, high net worth individuals, non -governmental organisations to please partner with this administration in addressing the problems of youth unemployment, restiveness and mis-directed agitations,” she stated.

Adebule promised that the state government will continue to work with the private sector in delivering a robust technical and vocational education poised at producing high quality technical skills for the provision of excellent services to Lagos residents.

The State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Babatunde Durosinmi Etti, urged the graduands to translate the knowledge acquired into reality by harnessing opportunities available to them in the competitive world of business.

He called on entrepreneurs and other skilled individuals across the state to access the N25billion Empowerment Trust Fund put in place by the governor for young entrepreneurs to grow and sustain their businesses.

For the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Vocation and Technical Vocational Boards, Olawunmi Gasper, the graduation ceremony symbolises a successful private and public partnership between the state government, NECA and ITF.

He said: “This is an example of sharing responsibilities between then public and the private sector for the vocational education and training sector. Government and the private sector are working together in the provision of qualified, competent and skilled youths in the three selected areas if carpentry, plumbing and bricklaying/tiling.