Lagos to boost youth entrepreneurship for economic diversification

The Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr Lola Akande says the state government will continue to boost youth entrepreneurship, for economic diversification.

Akande said this at Ikeja on Friday during a news briefing on the maiden edition of Lagos Island Business Connect Fair 2022.

She said that the state government was always collaborating with stakeholders to align with the Federal Government’s policy on diversification of the economy from the focus on oil to non-oil export.

According to her, that is why the government is organising the maiden edition of Lagos Island Business Connect Fair 2022, to diversify the economy, through youth entrepreneurship.

She said that the fair with the theme: ”Edu-Social For Entrepreneurs In Lagos Island & Lagos State Towards Social Economic Empowerment”, was a one-of-a-kind event, scheduled for Nov. 24 to 27.

Akande said that the well thought-out fair bore direct relevance to the clarion call of Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of transforming and positioning the state for the 21st Century Economy.

”LI-BIZ-FAIR is designed to encourage the promotion of business and social enterprise among entrepreneurs – particularly the youths.

”It will create opportunities to identify comparative advantages present in Lagos Island and strengthen bottom up growth for continuous business interaction and socio-economic security.

”It will also provide training opportunities for MSMEs in business education, networking and leadership qualities during the masterclass sessions.

”We also consider the fair quite important, because while it focuses on all MSMEs in Lagos Island in particular and Lagos State/Nigeria in general, it is giving special attention to youth entrepreneurs,” she said.

The commissioner said that at various times, the Nigerian MSMEs, especially the youths had been advised not to let lack of finance be an impediment to their ability to build successful businesses, create wealth and contribute their quota to the society.

She said that the Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had provided social economic empowerment and interventions in various ways for the MSMEs, of which the state’s teeming youth formed a major part.

Also speaking, the co-Founder, Lagos Island Connect (LIC), which initiated the Fair, Mrs Yemi Ransome-Kuti, said that the fair was designed to meet both the present and future needs of businesses and youth population in the Lagos Island Area in particular and Lagos State at large.

Ransome-Kuti said that the fair aimed to provide Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and artisans in Lagos Island with business education and networking opportunities to learn effective, professional organisational styles and leadership qualities.

She commended the Lagos State Government for the great support it was providing MSMEs and for supporting the fair.

”Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s administration is doing very well to empower the MSMEs but most of the young businesses are not aware.

”So, this event will provide opportunity for such businesses to further gain access to the market and tap from the numerous opportunities being provided by the State Government,” Ransome-Kuti said.

She said that the aim was to replicate the fair in the 20 Local Government Areas and the 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.