Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said more than 8,000 young graduates have passed through the state’s Graduate Internship Placement Programme as his administration seeks to ease the transition from university to employment.
Sanwo-Olu
made this known on Monday at the onboarding ceremony for 1,000 new
beneficiaries of the GIPP, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth
Creation and Employment at the De-Blue Roof, LTV Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja.
The
ceremony was attended by Deputy Governor Kadri Hamzat, represented by Musiliu
Obanikoro; Chairman of the House Committee on Wealth Creation, Stella Osafile;
Head of Service, Bode Agoro; Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment,
Akinyemi Ajigbotafe; Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Lolade Aina; other
senior government officials and representatives of participating private-sector
organisations.
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The
governor, who was represented by the Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service
Commission, Boladele Dapo-Thomas, said the programme was established to address
the gap between academic qualifications and the practical experience
increasingly required by employers.
He
urged the latest beneficiaries to treat the internship as a pathway into the
labour market rather than merely a short-term placement.
“Learn.
Ask questions. Be punctual. Be disciplined. Be innovative. Wherever you are
placed, bring value,” Sanwo-Olu told the graduates.
According
to him, the experience gained during the placement could improve the
beneficiaries’ employability, while their conduct and performance could
determine the opportunities available to them after the programme.
The
governor said many graduates encountered difficulties entering the workforce
because, despite having academic qualifications, they lacked exposure to
professional environments and the practical competencies required to function
effectively in them.
He
said GIPP was intended to close that gap by placing graduates in workplaces
where they could acquire hands-on experience, develop professional competencies
and build networks that could support their careers.
Sanwo-Olu
said the number of beneficiaries recorded so far reflected the administration’s
continued investment in youth employment and human capital development.
He,
however, challenged the 1,000 new beneficiaries to take personal responsibility
for maximising the opportunity provided by the state.
“Wherever
you are placed, bring value,” he said, stressing that professionalism,
integrity, consistency and initiative would be essential to making the
internship meaningful.
The
governor also urged participating employers to see the programme as more than
an avenue for receiving temporary workers, calling on private-sector
organisations to provide meaningful assignments, mentorship and opportunities
for young graduates to develop relevant workplace skills.
He
called for greater collaboration between government, businesses and development
partners to expand internship placements and establish clearer pathways from
internships to employment.
Sanwo-Olu
said sustainable job creation could not be achieved by government alone,
arguing that businesses had an important role to play in providing young people
with the experience and competencies required to compete in the labour market.
He
said youth employment and skills development remained priorities under his
administration’s THEMES+ development agenda and that Lagos would continue to
pursue programmes aimed at preparing young people for the changing world of
work.
The
governor also told the beneficiaries that their participation in the programme
came with a responsibility to represent Lagos positively in their host
organisations.
He
said the state could provide the platform, but the outcome would depend on the
beneficiaries’ willingness to learn, adapt, demonstrate initiative and
contribute to their host organisations.
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