Mrs. Bateren Nofisat Yinka, 50, is one of the six artisans honoured by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Best Graduating Tradesmen in the just-concluded up-skilling programme taken across the Lagos State Skill Acquisition Centres.

The trader, nominated for the course by Bamboo Marketers Association, was one of the 1,200 artisans and tradesmen across Lagos who took the intensive eight-week vocational training midwifed by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.

At the 12th graduation held on Tuesday at De Blue Roof of Lagos Television in Agidingbi, 800 artisans and 400 tradesmen across 60 participating traders’ associations were empowered by the State Government with modern tools and equipment for development of their businesses.

The intervention was designed to scale up the beneficiaries’ technical and entrepreneurial skills, with the objective to broaden their knowledge and enhance their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness in the modern marketplace.

The empowerment was in furtherance of the social inclusion, gender equality and youth empowerment pillar of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus development agenda, aimed at bridging income disparity and enhancing economic opportunities.

The Governor said the up-skilling programme was introduced specifically to address skill shortfalls and poor business management in the informal sector where artisans held major economic roles.

Sanwo-Olu said artisans and tradesmen formed the backbone of the State’s economy, stressing that the Government tailored the training to focus on empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with modern techniques that would enable them to improve productivity and income.

He said: “We have initiated this intervention to bring hope to hardworking artisans and traders who needed improvement in their crafts. This rigorous training you have just completed will help you to get better at your job, given the new skills you have gained. We expect great turnaround in your jobs and the income earned from your chosen crafts. The economic value to be derived from your improved productivity is expected to reflect positively on your lives, your communities and the State.”

“Artisans and traders are part of the backbone of our economy, with a larger number of our population working and contributing to the State’s economic growth from the informal sector. Skilled and creative workers are part of our future needs. The world is changing fast and technology is one of the ways to make us work smarter. Evolving economic system requires new ideas and skills. With this training, we have given you the tools to create new opportunities for yourselves.”

Aside from the intensive training, Sanwo-Olu also provided modern tools for each trainee, urging them to impart the knowledge gained through the programme on members of their associations.

For those in need of business grants to improve their crafts, the Governor advised the trainees to consider applying for single-digit loan from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF). The agency, Sanwo-Olu said, offered the best loan assistance on working capital for traders seeking to expand their businesses.

“We are committed to helping you to grow and do well. By this journey, you are starting a new phase in your lives. I enjoin you to be the best you can be in your vocations. Share the knowledge and experience gained from this training. The future belongs to people who are willing to adopt new techniques in this changing environment,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, noted that the Sanwo-Olu administration had trained 7,400 artisans and tradesmen since inception of the programme, disclosing that 4,900 beneficiaries had been empowered with working tools and grants to aid their businesses.

The Commissioner said the training was divided into two sessions, with participants being taken through theoretical class work in the first three weeks, learning entrepreneurship development, customer relationship, health and safety, computing and digital marketing, communication skills, mindset orientation, digital fraud prevention and book keeping.

The remaining five weeks, Ajigbotafe said, were dedicated to learning practical lessons and demonstrations, as well as industrial tours.

“After eight weeks of learning, the beneficiaries can now return to their crafts with a positive mindset and renewed confidence. You all have been empowered to contribute more to the growth of Lagos economy. I strongly believe that the training will help graduands attain financial independence as well as improved socio-economic wellbeing,” Ajigbotafe said