Sanwo-Olu Empowers 2,000 Artisans, Tradesmen

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has donated three hectares of land to the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA) to build an industrial skills hub for artisans and a secretariat in Badagry.

The donation followed a request by LASCOTA at the 12th Tradesmen and Artisans’ Day and Graduation Ceremony for 2000 upskilled artisans held at Ikeja, Lagos.

Besides, all the graduates who were trained by Bosch Nigeria on the use of their modern tools went home with startup kits, tools and equipment donated by the government.

The training and empowerment programme was the 3rd edition under the administration of Sanwo-Olu and was done through the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.

In his address, Sanwo-Olu said, “That technology and innovation are the bedrock of economic development across the world is not in doubt. The transition of human societies from the agricultural age to the Industrial Age to the Digital Age has been underlined by waves of innovation that emerge to disrupt an established and accepted order and replace it with a new way of seeing and doing things.

“The internet and digital technologies have now come along to hasten the pace of transition and transformation, and to entrench the power of innovation even further in our societies. Nobody can afford to ignore the rapid pace of change in the 21st century. “Anyone who does is bound to pay a very heavy price for this. The lesson for our artisans in Lagos State therefore is that you cannot afford to be left behind. You have to incorporate technological innovation into your practice.

“You have to stay in tune with emerging trends from around the world, and constantly anticipate the direction in which your various areas of practice might be headed.”

The Lagos governor added: “Whether you’re a cobbler, plumber, mechanic, fashion-designer, make-up artist, whatever you might be, you must start to think out of the box—not just in the work that you produce but also in how you brand and market that product, and how you position yourself within your sector.” According to him, “On our part, our administration will continue to create and maintain an enabling environment for artisans and tradesmen to thrive. We will keep investing in programs that will significantly impact the lives and earnings of artisans and others.

“We acknowledge that for us to build the dynamic economy of our dreams, we must optimise the value provided by skilled workers, while also training the under-skilled segments of the workforce. In line with this, we conceived the idea of the artisans’ up-skilling program to enhance the competence of our artisans in Lagos State.

“The program was developed to equip you with the necessary skills to become 21st century artisans, in alignment with a key component of our T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, which is making Lagos a 21st century economy.”

In her address, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation & Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke said the informal sector remains the engine that drives economic development.

“It therefore becomes imperative for Lagos artisans to work towards the realisation of a common purpose which is creating a 21st economy artisans for sustainable economic growth with a view to making and sustaining Lagos as a 21st century economy,’’ she added.

Credit: ThisDay