By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The Lagos State Government has unveiled the Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP), an initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of youth unemployment and equipping them with skills and experiences.
The state’s Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, during the unveiling on Wednesday in Lagos, called on post-NYSC graduates to take advantage of the programme, to be employable.
The commissioner said the registration, via wealthcreation.lagosstateGIPP2024, which opened July 1 and had Aug. 2 as the closing date, had been extended by one week to allow more youths to register.
He noted that the programme, which he described as the ‘Empower Lagos initiative’, a 36-month plan project, would address skills gaps and ensure economic growth.
He said it was aimed at creating sustainable wealth for a minimum of 10,000 beneficiaries across all industries.
According to him, the programme is a comprehensive initiative designed by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to address the pressing challenges of unemployment, underemployment, and economic inequality in the state.
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“We realised that there is a huge gap between academic learning and practical workplace experiences, which makes most graduates unemployable.
“The GIPP programme is, therefore, designed to bridge the gap, ensuring our graduates are fully prepared to excel in the workforce and it’s specifically targeted at post-NYSC graduates.
“The aim is to create sustainable wealth for a minimum of 10,000 beneficiaries across all industries, with adequate measures put in place to ensure each beneficiary trains at least 10 individuals,” he added.
The commissioner solicited more collaboration from public and private establishments to drive the journey, adding that 30 companies had shown interest.
“We’re targeting 100 companies,” he said.
Ajigbotafe explained that under the Employability Skills Programme, the ministry would provide employability training for a minimum of 2,000 first degree holders and some beneficiaries would undergo specialised ICT training with certification upon completion.
“The Vocational Skills Development Programme intends to train and give equipment grants to 5,000 artisans and tradesmen.
“Entrepreneurship Skills Development is to provide support for 3,000 small-scale business owners with training and start-up capital.
“There’s also Youth Empowerment in Blighted Areas, a special training and seed funding for youths in underserved communities and POS Machine/start-up seed support designed to provide POS machines and seed funding for 1,425 youths for the establishment of micro-enterprises.
“The Lagos state government in collaboration with our partners and donor agencies, will provide stipends to all beneficiaries to ensure that our graduates can fully focus on their training and internships.
“This financial support will be available both during the three week training and throughout the three months internship period.
“This is one of the strategies being used by the state government to address unemployment among the youth, especially university graduates’’.
He listed the requirements to include having a Lagos State Resident Agency (LASSRA) Registration, Post-NYSC Certificate, a pass in basic aptitude and a personality test that would be administered through a Computer Based Test. (NAN)
