In a renewed commitment to youth development, the Lagos State Government and GIZ’s Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE) programme have taken a significant step toward enhancing technical and vocational training infrastructure across the state.
In a recent high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Commissioner Akinyemi Ajigbotafe welcomed GIZ‑SKYE’s delegation, led by Programme Manager Sujetlana Djoxic, to finalize plans for the fully equipped Eko Job Centres in Ikorodu, Epe, Oshodi‑Isolo, Ojo, and Eti‑Osa LGAs. The centres represent pivotal hubs aimed at connecting job seekers with employers while providing skills training tailored to market demand .
These centres serve as matchmaking platforms: job seekers register their skills, interests, and experience, which employers review to fill vacancies—streamlining the employment process and boosting youth participation in the workforce . Facilities at the centres include modern computer labs and vocational workshops, making them vital components of Lagos’s broader initiative to tackle youth unemployment through state‑of‑the‑art vocational education .
Governor Sanwo‑Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Abimbola Salu‑Hundeyin, hailed the partnership as critical to building a skilled workforce, essential for Lagos to maintain its status as Nigeria’s economic powerhouse. He noted that equipping young people is as important as infrastructure development when it comes to sustainable growth .
The collaboration, overseen by international development agencies including the German Embassy’s Development Cooperation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, underscores Lagos State’s proactive approach toward aligning technical education with industry needs and expanding employment avenues for its rapidly growing youth population .
Also worthy of note is the national context: the SKYE programme, originally a 2018–2023 initiative, recently expanded under SKYE II (2023–2026). It continues to address Nigeria’s acute youth unemployment through dual vocational training, public–private sector cooperation, and standardisation of technical education in agriculture, construction, and manufacturing .
As Lagos State and GIZ‑SKYE deepen their partnership, their focus on technical capacity building and direct employer engagement is expected to equip thousands of young Lagosians with practical skills, boosting employability and ensuring that youth prosperity becomes integral to state and national socio-economic development.
