Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said more than 8,000 young graduates have passed through the state’s Graduate Internship Placement Programme as his administration seeks to ease the transition from university to employment.
Sanwo-Olu made this known on Monday at the onboarding ceremony for 1,000 new beneficiaries of the GIPP, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment at the De-Blue Roof, LTV Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Governor Kadri Hamzat, represented by Musiliu Obanikoro; Chairman of the House Committee on Wealth Creation, Stella Osafile; Head of Service, Bode Agoro; Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe; Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Lolade Aina; other senior government officials and representatives of participating private-sector organisations.
The governor, who was represented by the Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Boladele Dapo-Thomas, said the programme was established to address the gap between academic qualifications and the practical experience increasingly required by employers.
He urged the latest beneficiaries to treat the internship as a pathway into the labour market rather than merely a short-term placement.
“Learn. Ask questions. Be punctual. Be disciplined. Be innovative. Wherever you are placed, bring value,” Sanwo-Olu told the graduates.
According to him, the experience gained during the placement could improve the beneficiaries’ employability, while their conduct and performance could determine the opportunities available to them after the programme.
The governor said many graduates encountered difficulties entering the workforce because, despite having academic qualifications, they lacked exposure to professional environments and the practical competencies required to function effectively in them.
He said GIPP was intended to close that gap by placing graduates in workplaces where they could acquire hands-on experience, develop professional competencies and build networks that could support their careers.
Sanwo-Olu said the number of beneficiaries recorded so far reflected the administration’s continued investment in youth employment and human capital development.
He, however, challenged the 1,000 new beneficiaries to take personal responsibility for maximising the opportunity provided by the state.
“Wherever you are placed, bring value,” he said, stressing that professionalism, integrity, consistency and initiative would be essential to making the internship meaningful.
The governor also urged participating employers to see the programme as more than an avenue for receiving temporary workers, calling on private-sector organisations to provide meaningful assignments, mentorship and opportunities for young graduates to develop relevant workplace skills.
He called for greater collaboration between government, businesses and development partners to expand internship placements and establish clearer pathways from internships to employment.
Sanwo-Olu said sustainable job creation could not be achieved by government alone, arguing that businesses had an important role to play in providing young people with the experience and competencies required to compete in the labour market.
He said youth employment and skills development remained priorities under his administration’s THEMES+ development agenda and that Lagos would continue to pursue programmes aimed at preparing young people for the changing world of work.
The governor also told the beneficiaries that their participation in the programme came with a responsibility to represent Lagos positively in their host organisations.
He said the state could provide the platform, but the outcome would depend on the beneficiaries’ willingness to learn, adapt, demonstrate initiative and contribute to their host organisations.
