LSETF partners UNDP to create jobs, raise entrepreneurs
The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has entered into partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a view to creating more jobs in the state and raising a set of new entrepreneurs.
Under this partnership, the two organisations will continuously commit significant financial and technical resources for the Lagos State Employability Support Project between May 2017 and April 2019.
The LSETF and the UNDP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last Wednesday, which provides a framework of cooperation and strengthens the collaboration between LASG and UNDP in areas of common interest.
“We are proud to have the UNDP as technical and financial partners to our employability programme, which we have designed for the benefit of thousands of unemployed youths in Lagos State. It sign-posts confidence in our programmes and our ability to execute them transparently,” said Akin Oyebode, executive secretary, LSETF at the MoU signing in Lagos.
“With this support from UNDP, we have received the needed boost in the actualisation of the Fund’s Employability Programme, which will address the twin issues of capacity building for our youths as well as the provision of employment opportunities for them,” Oyebode said.
“Indeed, the LSETF’s Employability Programme seeks to change the current challenge of non-availability of employable (skilled) workers to meet the Lagos State public/private sector demand. Through this partnership, UNDP and LSETF will expand employment opportunities for youths by upgrading the quality of teaching skills and the curriculum of technical colleges and vocational centres in line with the local demand needs. We will also provide training in relevant sectors for which skilled and employable youths meet local labour demand and ensure job matching and skilled promotion for trained beneficiaries,” he noted.
Mandisa Mashologu, UNDP country director, said the UNDP/LSETF partnership on Employability Support would serve as a model to demonstrate how unemployment could be reduced by addressing key labour supply shortcomings through committed partnership between the public/private sectors and a development agency.
It is expected that through the project, over 10,000 skilled manpower will be produced in a three-year period to cater for demand in key sectors. Also, 25 technical and vocational training centres in Lagos will have new vocational curriculum as well as improved teaching skills for technical instructors. The project targets unemployed and under employed youths with or without skills and aged 18 to 35 years with special consideration for women.
ODINAKA ANUDU