As part of efforts to reduce youth unemployment and mitigate the impact of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lagos State government has called for applications for its 2020 Graduate Internship Scheme for unemployed graduates.
This was made known by Yetunde Arobieke, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment during a recent press conference.
According to her, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos has approved an internship programme placement of 4,000 unemployed post-NYSC graduates for six months with private organisations and selected ministries, departments, and agencies.
“Lagos State Graduate Internship Placement Programme (LASGIPP) would offer unemployed post-NYSC graduates resident in the state intervention of a month intensive employability training to develop work-related skills and knowledge,” said Arobieke.
“This is in addition to a six months hands-on work experience with private organisations and selected ministries, departments, and agencies towards promoting their career and personal development as well as connect with the right opportunities to contribute to the economy,” She said.
She said at the end of the internship programme for selected youths, the interns would have gained valuable work experience, built up their professional skills, and would have been exposed to entrepreneurial opportunities to further broaden their professional skills.
She notes that the internship programme would also assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and other companies to choose from the state’s database of groomed talents and interns to enhance productivity and boost their businesses thereby promoting economic growth.
She said over 1,275 companies have indicated their willingness to take on the interns after their training while encouraging graduates who have completed their NYSC programme and are residents of the state to take advantage of the initiative.
Arobieke explained that interested applicants must possess NYSC certificates or letters of exemption, and must be registered residents of the state with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency(LASRRA).
She notes that LASGIPP would be addressing the third and fourth pillars of the present administration’s development agenda which are education, technology, and making a 21st-century economy.
“This programme is to ensure that we empower the teeming youths in our state,” she said.
She urged unemployed youths with a minimum of Bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma residing in any of the 57 Local Government/Council Development Areas and have completed their NYSC programme or exempted with proof as well as having an ID issued by LASRRA to visit www.gipplasg.lagosstate.gov.ng/#/main to apply.
The commissioner stated that LASGIPP is one of the ministry’s employability programmes and an initiative created by the state to address youth unemployment.
She added that the programme has commenced since 2017 with the placement of interns with organisations and about 2,000 unemployed youths have gotten internship and full employment with organisations like Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, WEMA Bank, Main One, Health Plus, Ntel, Meyer Plc, Ikoyi Club among others.
Also speaking during the press conference, Segun Dawodu, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development urged the youths to take advantage of the programme and convince the prospective employers that they are up to the task to be retained permanently, saying the ministry would only ensure placement.
