In a bid to equip young people with relevant vocational and entrepreneurial skills, the Lagos State Government under the 2025 Skills Acquisition Programme of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation graduated 6,190 residents.
The graduates were urged to turn their newly acquired skills into sustainable livelihood for economic expansion.
In a post on its X handle on Wednesday, the graduates, comprising 4,225 females and 1,963 males, were celebrated at a graduation ceremony held on Tuesday at the De Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja.
The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the graduation reflected the administration’s commitment to equipping residents with practical skills that could improve household incomes and strengthen economic participation.
The Governor who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said investment in skills development was aimed at giving residents the capacity to create opportunities for themselves and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economy.
According to the governor, the Free Skills Acquisition Centres provide residents with access to vocational and entrepreneurial training at no cost, creating pathways to establish businesses, secure employment and improve their livelihoods.
He urged the graduates to continue developing their skills, embrace innovation and technology, understand customer needs and make effective use of available opportunities.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted the Ministry’s Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI), which is designed to help beneficiaries transition from training to enterprise.
He said more than 3,800 Lagos residents received productive equipment and business start-up support under the 2026 edition of MESI, including some outstanding graduates of the Skills Acquisition Centres.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, said the programme became pertinent to promote economic independence and reduce poverty.
Dada said WAPA operates 19 Skills Acquisition Centres across the five IBILE divisions of Lagos State, alongside the Women Development Centre in Agege, bringing the total number of training locations to 20.
She explained that the centres offer tuition-free vocational and entrepreneurial training in various fields, equipping participants with practical skills that can be developed into viable businesses and careers.
The commissioner added that the ministry’s skills development initiatives also extend to grassroots, rural and riverine communities to ensure wider access to economic empowerment opportunities.
Sinjeganji Prisca, trained in Hair Dressing and Cosmetology; Okon Essien Babatunde, a graduate of Woodwork and Furniture Making; Azeez Mariam, trained in Catering and Hotel Management; and Omotosho Fathia, a Fashion Designing and Dress Making graduate, expressed appreciation for the training and support received.
The practical impact of the programme was further demonstrated through the presentation of equipment to the best graduating students from each of the Skills Acquisition Centres.
The equipment is expected to enable the outstanding beneficiaries to put their skills into practice and take steps towards establishing or expanding their businesses.
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