The Lagos State Government has called on stakeholders across various sectors to work together in addressing the rising challenge of youth unemployment.
The appeal was made on Wednesday during the 2025 Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, themed “Passion to Prosperity: Unlocking Youth Potential in Lagos.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Saliu-Hundeyin, emphasised the need for collective action in creating sustainable job opportunities. He also pledged that the state would generate 1,000 new jobs through an initiative tagged the Graduate Internship Placement Programme.
“Today is about sharing ideas and policy suggestions; it is a call to action to tap into the incredible potential that lies within our young people,” Sanwo-Olu said. “Lagos State, a hub of innovation and resilience, is fortunate to have a youth demographic that is dynamic, driven, and eager to make a difference.
“From the bustling tech hubs in Yaba to the vibrant fashion centres in Ikeja, the music studios in Surulere, and the agricultural lands in Epe, every part of Lagos showcases the creativity and hard work of our youth. Their passion shines through their daring ideas, and their contributions are shaping the future of our state.
“We need to nurture that passion, provide direction, and turn it into real results. This means ensuring access to quality education, relevant skills, mentorship, funding, and a supportive ecosystem.”
Guest speaker and President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Mallam Ahmed Gobir, charged stakeholders to unlock youth potential not by “silencing their beat but by amplifying their rhythm.”
“Let us move from profit first to people, because the return on investing in people is exponential,” he added.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, described the gathering as more than an event but a strategic meeting with a common goal to unlock the potential of young people and transform their passion into prosperity.
