About 6,252 students have graduated from the 18 Skill Acquisition Centres in Lagos State.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Isheri Skill Acquisition Hall, Lagos State.
The 6,252 graduands were trained in 15 different skills such as Hairdressing and Cosmetology, Catering and Hotel Management, Computer training, Barbing, Textile Design, Hat Making and Bead Stringing, Shoe Making/Leather Works, Fashion Design and Dress Making.
Others are Welding Fabrication, Vulcanising/Wheel Balancing and Alignment, Refrigerator and AC Maintenance/Repairs, Aluminum Fabrication, Screen/Transfer Printing Technology, Tile Laying/Pave Lock Making, and Carpentry and Furniture Making.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, advised youths and women in the State to engage themselves in vocational skills to be employers of labour rather than depending solely on government and private organisations for job opportunities.
Sanwo-Olu urged the graduating students to use the skills they have acquired in the last few months to create platforms for themselves to be employers of labour.
The governor also told them to be persistent, persevere, focused and not to give up on their dreams, adding that they should take advantage of the free online business registration channel provided by the Federal Government for the first 250,000 small and medium scale enterprises.
He said they should use technology, especially their data to add value to their lives and not for things that would not contribute positively to their growth and development in life.
The governor, who disclosed that government cannot provide jobs for everybody based on the population of people in the state, said that what government is meant to do is to create an enabling environment for people to be employers of labour and become entrepreneurs who would create businesses and opportunities for themselves, families and others.
Sanwo-Olu, who also said that he was a plumber about 30 years ago, said the graduating trainees are on the right path and therefore encouraged them to be determined and committed to achieving desired success in their respective skills for them to be successful CEOs in the future.
He further urged the 6,252 graduating students to do all they can to make learning a life-long venture, by constantly seeking ways to improve their skills and grow their businesses.
He assured them of government’s support to achieve success in their various vocations, noting that the State Government has resources to help them accelerate their growth.