At least 14,256 youths from Lagos and in the diaspora applied for the agro-business training programme, meant to train and empower 5,700 youths; drawn from the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.

The programme tagged, National Image Youth Empowerment, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summit is being put together by National Image Magazine.

Interested participants who must be aged between 18 and 45 years are expected to be trained in various skills and vocations bordering on business, manufacturing, internet business, exporting, tourism among others.

Speaking with journalists at Ikeja, Lagos, programme coordinator, Mr. Seyi Bamigbade said his team has been highly encouraged by the level of response and enthusiasm shown towards the programme by Lagosians, saying he is working with other members of his team to screen the applications, so as to pick the first set of 5,700 candidates who will participate in the first leg of the programme.

According to him, other applicants who may not have the chance of being selected for the first leg of programme will be given priority for the second leg of the programme which will be held in the third quarter of the year.

The programme coordinator said the import of the training programme was to lend a helping hand to the Lagos State Government as it strives to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

Bamigbade thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for making the youth centres across the state available for the training programme; even as he urged for more support from governments, private organisations and well meaning Nigerians.

Expatiating further on the programme, the coordinator said centres slated for the exercise are Lagos State Government Youth Centres in Epe and Ikeja from Monday, June 13 to June 24, 2016.