The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has partnered with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund to launch a programme targeted at enabling a new and inclusive pathway to career oriented learning for at least 50,000 residents.
A statement issued by FCDO said a document formalising a partnership between the Lagos State Government and the United Kingdom for the execution of the programme has been signed by both parties.
It added that the programme tagged ‘Skills for Prosperity Nigeria’ would provide technical support and capacity building interventions to improve, institutionalise and promote a national apprenticeship and training system under the Industrial Training Fund.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mrs Teju Abisoye, said, “We are excited about this partnership as it aligns with the mandate of the agency to upskill at least 50,000 residents in Lagos.
“With this programme, we are optimistic that we are in the right direction towards achieving and surpassing this objective.”
The Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission Lagos, Mr Ben Llewellyn-Jones, stated, “We are elated that this programme aligns with the agenda of the current administration and will help produce disciplined, positive and instructive youths in Lagos State through the programmes’ detailed and well-structured engagement processes.”
During the signing ceremony, Acting Team Lead, Skills for Prosperity Programme, Sybil Ferris, stated, “Skills for Prosperity is a United Kingdom funded programme implemented across nine African countries including Nigeria.
“This programme allows us to implement and institutionalise a formal apprenticeship and training system that supports enterprise development and provides youth with decent jobs.
“Through robust sector skills assessment, three key sectors in high demand have been identified as agriculture, information communications technology, and the creative industry, hence our focus will be targeted at upskilling youths in these sectors and placing them in gainful employment.”
The statement added that the programme would involve the participation of government, private sector, and public and private training providers to increase access, improve quality and relevance of skills, as well as ease school-to-work transition as a new pathway to a career-oriented education and training for all categories of youths especially women and persons with disabilities.
