In a bid to tackle rising unemployment and promote inclusive economic development, the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State has launched a strategic unemployment survey targeted at youths and women within the community.
The initiative, flagged off by the Executive Chairman of the council, Hon. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, is designed to gather vital data that will inform future policy decisions and enable the council to tailor empowerment programmes effectively. According to the council boss, the survey is part of a broader effort to address the employment gap and provide sustainable livelihoods for the area’s most vulnerable groups.
“We believe that data is a critical tool in solving the unemployment challenge. With this survey, we hope to identify the specific needs, skills, and aspirations of our youths and women, so that we can design programmes that truly make a difference,” Hon. Olowa said.
Ibeju-Lekki, regarded as one of Lagos State’s fastest-growing economic corridors due to the presence of key industrial projects such as the Dangote Refinery, Lekki Deep Seaport, and the Free Trade Zone, continues to attract investment. However, many local residents—particularly young people and women—have yet to fully benefit from these developments due to inadequate skills or limited job opportunities.
The survey, now accessible online and through designated local centers, seeks to collect data on educational qualifications, vocational skills, and current employment status. The findings will be used to develop job placement initiatives, vocational training programmes, and small business support schemes.
Residents have been urged to participate actively and honestly in the exercise. The council has assured participants that the data will be treated with strict confidentiality and will be used solely for developmental purposes.
The move has been welcomed by community leaders and civil society groups, who have described it as a timely intervention. They noted that addressing youth and women unemployment is essential to curbing poverty and reducing social vices in the area.
As the Ibeju-Lekki axis continues to transform into a commercial and industrial hub, the local government’s data-driven approach to job creation is being seen as a model for other councils across Nigeria to emulate.
