Employment: Over 5,000 Final Year Students Embarked on a Training That will Offer Them Employment

No less than 5,000 Final year students from eight tertiary organizations in Lagos have initiated preparing in three distinct communities for the third release of the Ready.Set.Work, an Entrepreneurship and Employability Training project of the State's Ministry of Education.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Chairman, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru; Beneficiary, Mrs. Adetola Akitoye of Andy Clarke Confections and Executive Secretary, LSETF, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode during the LSETF Cheque Presentation ceremony to the beneficiaries of the Loan Scheme at the LTV Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, January 26, 2017.

The preparation program Started at the end of the week at the three assigned focuses including LASU, Ojo Campus; LASPOTECH, Ikorodu Campus and UNILAG, Akoka, with scores of experts from various parts of the economy, who have joined as volunteers in the Ready.Set.Work Faculty which will keep running for 13 weeks.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh in an announcement on Monday, said the eccentricity of the continuous version of Ready.Set.Work activity was a demonstration of the unflinching duty of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to human capital advancement, particularly for Students in Lagos State.

He said, “This administration has committed resources to the Ready.Set.Work project since its inception. In his resolve to empower youths in the State and stem the tide of unemployment, the Governor has mandated that the programme must be expanded to cater for every student in any Tertiary Institution in Lagos State.” “You we remember that the programme commenced in 2016 with 500 final year students from three institutions namely; Lagos State University, LASU; Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH and Lagos State College of Health Technology, LASCOHET.

 I am pleased to announce that this year; we have 25,000 students from eight institutions participating in the programme. About 5,000 of these students, who are in their final year, have resumed the 13-week campus classes as of Saturday, while 20,000 others in their penultimate year will participate in the programme through the RSW Online Academy.” Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN) as well as the Provost of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Dr. (Mrs.) Oladele Aina were on ground for the kick off at the LASU Centre hosting over 2,400 Ready.Set.Work students. Addressing the students, Dr. Aina emphasized on the importance of the programme, expressing optimism that it would help the beneficiaries see the real world of work and give them a seamless transition into it.  

Professor Fagbohun, on his part, emphasized how fortune the final year students were to be in the programme this year. “About 10,000 final year students wanted to be a part of this programme, but only you were picked . What that tells you is this: You are the best of the best. You must recognize your strength and give it your best,” he said. In Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, where over 2,000 students are enrolled in the programme, the Rector of the Institution, leading the entire management team was on ground throughout the day to inspire the students and ensure a smooth kick off. Some of the students could not hold back their excitement as they took to their various social media platforms to give kudos to the State Government and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the laudable project. Tejumade Akintunde said, “This is an amazing programme, I can’t wait to receive more interesting lectures. The content of the programme is rich and impactful”.

 Another participating student, Olumide said, “Lagos State is really investing a lot in the Ready.Set.Work programme. It is totally worth the time.” This year, as in previous years, the programme boasts a team of Volunteer Faculty and project support staff, all professional and talented individuals who have chosen to give up their Saturday to train, mentor and positively impact the lives of these students. For the next 13 weeks, they will be bringing to bear their knowledge and wealth of experience to shape and inspire the next generation of workers and business owners. 

The Fully executed work 2018 cohort includes students from Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH),Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), a private institution, CALEB University.