In a significant move aimed at enhancing students’ knowledge of entrepreneurship and digital literacy to combat youth unemployment, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tertiary Education, will commence a three-weekend Job Initiative Lagos (JIL) entrepreneurship and intensive digital knowledge training programme for students in state-owned tertiary institutions.
In a statement on Thursday, the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mamud Hassan, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, said the entrepreneurship training is a core initiative under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus agenda, specifically targeting the Education and Technology pillars.
“This administration is committed to driving the socio-economic growth of the state by leveraging digital knowledge to foster entrepreneurship, creativity, and problem-solving skills,” Commissioner Sule stated.
“Our ultimate goal is to reduce unemployment and cement Lagos State’s position as the hub of digital technology in the Sub-Saharan region.”
The commissioner highlighted the state government’s substantial investment in infrastructure and technological facilities across tertiary institutions, noting that the training is designed to supplement academic knowledge with first-hand industry expertise.
This integrated approach ensures students gain the practical skills required to thrive and compete in a globally connected, digitally driven world. Commissioner Sule urged the participating students to fully utilise the free training opportunity and implement the knowledge acquired throughout the programme.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr. Adeniran Kasali, assured participants of the program’s high value. “What would ordinarily cost you and your parents a fortune is now being offered free of charge by the state government,” Mr. Kasali said.
He further guaranteed that seasoned professionals have been meticulously assembled to train the students, preparing them for future global challenges and empowering them to become self-reliant contributors to the development of Lagos and Nigeria at large upon graduation.
The three-weekend training programme with grand finale scheduled for Adeyemi-Bero, Alausa Secretariat, will simultaneously begin on Saturday, November 1, 2025, across the two major centers: Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, and Lagos State Health Technology, Yaba.
Hosting over five hundred students from various state-owned tertiary institutions, the initiative reflects the current administration’s strong determination to stem the tide of graduate unemployment, build knowledge of entrepreneurship, and strategically position Lagos as a prime driver of digital knowledge within the country and far beyond.
Just last weekend, Commissioner Sule joined Governor Sanwo-Olu, as he commissioned the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex at Lagos State University (LASU), another critical infrastructure that embodies the government’s unwavering commitment to transforming the academic landscape of Lagos State.
