Lagos State Government in partnership with Pelse Consulting has intensified entrepreneurship surge with masterclass training for over 100 participants as 35 pitched their business ventures for funding.
Speaking at the 3rd edition of the Amplifier Business Clinic pitch competition, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, said entrepreneurship has become the lifeline for youths in Lagos as over 70 percent of them are already running businesses.
“Not every graduate will land a white-collar job. About 70–80 percent of Lagos youths are already in business. Our goal is to amplify what they are doing, give them access to investors and the foundation to scale,” he told journalists.
He stressed that the programme is merit-driven and open to all. “You don’t need connections to qualify,” he said, adding that the initiative offers more than funding. “Even if you don’t win a grant, the exposure and training prepare you to run a better business.”
Ogunlende also tied youth empowerment to crime prevention. “When young people must show up, deliver results and get paid, they abandon illegal activities and drop bad habits,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Managing Partner of Pelse Consulting, Adeniji Oluwafemi Boboye, said the initiative is focused on helping entrepreneurs build businesses that last.
“We teach them to put the right structure in place and live decently before scaling up. This training is key to creating multi-million-dollar businesses that outlive their founders. We’ve seen past participants grow and create jobs,” he remarked.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pharm. (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin Oke-Osanyintolu, announced plans to decentralize the clinic across Lagos’ five divisions — Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, and Lagos Island to improve access. “Transport is a challenge for many. We’ll take the training to them and hold the grand finale in Ikeja,” she explained.
One of the participants and founder of Ofada Hub, Ameenah Kazeem, said she learned the importance of customer feedback in growing her business. “I now know that solving a real problem is what makes a business sustainable,” she said.
