The Lagos State government has restated it’s resolve to continue enhancing the State’s Tradesmen and Artisans through policy formulation and implementations.
The State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode gave this indication at the 9th edition of Tradesmen and Artisan’s week and graduation ceremony for re-trained artisans with the theme: “Growing Capacity for a Dynamic Economy: The Artisans Perspective.”
Governor Ambode said for the economy to grow, the human and capacity development of the entrepreneurs must be strengthened.
“It is generally accepted today that the advancement of a nation from poverty is not a technical process, but rather a transformation process. At the centre of this transformational process are two driving forces, emotion and enlightenment. These factors are essentials in determining the economic growth and development of a nation. And these factors come to play in the quest for success of our Tradesmen and Artisans.
“Our government will continue to work in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to designed and execute programs to enhance the productivity of Tradesmen and Artisans,” the Governor said.
Commitment to Tradesmen
In the last three years, the government through the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment has showed unwavering commitment to Tradesmen and Artisans and in addition to providing a platform for individuals and groups to contribute their quota to developing the State.
“In line with our policy of inclusion, we have committed to invest heavily on program that have benefited individuals and groups particularly under the State Employment Trust Fund. Through these programs we have succeeded in giving a higher sense of belonging to artisans and Tradesmen in Lagos State. Our Artisans have now stepped up and are updating thier skills to meet up with global standards and changing expectations,” Governor Ambode explained.
He implored the graduates of the artisans Up-skilling Training Program to take advantage of the opportunities provided to be independent and become employers of labour and contribute to the growth and development of the State.
The Governor was represented by the Secretary to the State government, Mr Tunji Bello.
Employment drive
The Lagos State Commissioner of Wealth Creation and Employment, Pharmacist Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf said that the State would continue to promote and sustain entrepreneurship and employment though effective use of wealth creation strategies and resources by collaborating with all stakeholders.
The Commissioner said that the Tradesmen and Artisans week which was the 3rd edition of the programme under the current administration recognised the Contributions of the informal sector to the development of the economy.
“In line with our mandate we have continued to foster the creation of an enabling environment for our Artisans through access to market finance and capacity building. We also partner with Private Sector by way of impact investment to increase the capacity of our Artisans to compete globally,” the Commissioner said
She explained that the event was the presentation of another set of artisans who have successfully retrained and up-scaled for enhancing productivity having completed an 8-week intensive training by the Lagos state Technical and Vocational Educational Board LASTVEB under the capacity building initiative o the Lagos state Tradesmen and Artisans Empowerment programme LASTAEP.
Akinbile-Yusuf however highlighted some of the State support programs for the Tradesmen and Artisans in the State to include: release of 12 million annual subvention, training of about 1,500 artisans, access to loan through Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, completion of Artisan Virtual Market App among others.
Association support
The President of Lagos state Council of Tradesmen and Artisans LASCOTA, Mr Nurudeen Buhari expressed delight to the government’s support to the association in the last three years.
He lauded Governor Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for fulfilling his promise on the Credit facility scheme granted to his members through the State Employment Trust Fund.
Kind gestures
In a separate interview with Voice of Nigeria, some of the graduands and Artisans who exhibited their products at the event appreciated the State government for the gestures towards building a stronger economy through a coordinated entrepreneurial platform.
They promised to train and retrain others in various skills acquired at the training programme.