…As Over 300 firms, 5,000 job seekers throng 2025 Job Fair in Ikeja
Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has restated his administration’s commitment to empowering Lagos youth with the skills and opportunities needed to compete in today’s economy.
The Governor gave the assurance on Thursday at the 2025 Lagos State Job Fair, held at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, and organised by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.
Represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the fair as proof of government’s resolve to build an inclusive economy where no talent is wasted. He said the theme: “Your Career, Your Way: Explore Endless Possibilities” reflected the aspirations of Lagos youth.
Under the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Development Agenda, the Governor stressed, youth empowerment remains a core priority, citing ongoing investments in vocational training, digital literacy, entrepreneurship support and job creation initiatives.
He said: “Our goal is to prepare young people not just for the jobs of today, but for the opportunities of tomorrow. Through the Employment Trust Fund, Graduate Internship Placement Programme, Ready-Set-Work initiative, and partnerships with the private sector, we continue to create viable pathways for Lagos youth.”
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, the government disclosed that more than 200,000 jobs had been created in the last four years through direct and indirect interventions, including vocational training centres and the newly commissioned Leather Hub in Mushin.
Hon Ajigbotafe said Lagos has Africa’s largest youth population, warning that failure to create opportunities for them would mean failure for the state itself. He added that billions of naira had been disbursed through the Employment Trust Fund to support small businesses and young entrepreneurs.
The Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Mr Toriola Abdulafeez, urged stakeholders to support government’s wealth creation programmes.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Esv Wasiu Adebayo Olayinka, commended the Governor for his leadership and thanked employers, development partners and job seekers for making the fair a success.
Delivering the keynote, former Managing Director of Wemabod Estates Limited, Mr Oluyemi Ejidiran, described the fair as “a movement to restore dignity and unlock value for young people.” He warned of a persistent mismatch between skills and industry needs, and called for stronger collaboration between government, employers and educational institutions.
He told participants: “You may be jobless today, but you are not useless. Opportunity favours the prepared – so prepare, show up, and be intentional.”
The fair featured a panel session moderated by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment and Training, Mrs Olubusola Abidakun, with panellists including the Chairman, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Mrs Boladele Dapo-Thomas.
Over 300 organisations across ICT, finance, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, media and creative industries participated, while more than 5,000 young job seekers and entrepreneurs attended.
The Lagos State Government reaffirmed that the Job Fair would remain a flagship platform for connecting talent with opportunities and driving public-private sector collaboration.