Ambode offers N10m to best 3 Ready.Set.Work graduates
The Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday awarded N10 million seed fund to the best three graduating students of the Ready.Set.Work (RSW) Initiative, saying he was fulfilled that his administration was nurturing graduates that would contribute immensely to the development of the state and Nigeria in general.
Twenty year-old-graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU), Miss Afolayan Vivian, who emerged winner of the Pitch Competition, got N5 million, while Popoola Joshua and Miss Adeniyi Miriam finished in second and third positions to take home N3m and N2m respectively, courtesy of the governor.
The RSW initiative, a brain-child of the present administration, is an employability and entrepreneurship programme aimed at preparing final year students in tertiary institutions in Lagos State for immediate entry into the work force as employees and employers of labour.
At the well-attended 2018 Ready.Set. Work graduation ceremony held at the Landmark Event Centre, Gov Ambode said, “When I see youths so energetic and excited, I am happy to think I have made a difference in their lives. This is not about bridges, flyovers and hospitals. I feel so excited that I got this right and the future of this country is blessed. The energy inside this hall tells me there is a different world here from what is happening out there.”
He expressed optimism that the 5,000 graduates of the initiative had been well equipped for the world of work and raring to make a difference.
“By investing in people, we will secure the future prosperity of Lagos State and Nigeria. With programmes like RSW, Code Lagos and the Employment Trust Fund, we are providing platforms that will nurture a society of problem solvers, change-makers, and valueadding citizens helping to improve our economy. These innovative programmes must, therefore, not be allowed to die,” the governor said.
He said it was gratifying that the initiative, which commenced three years ago with about 500 students, 52 volunteer facilitators, friends and partners, has now reached over 37,000 students, over 700 volunteer facilitators and several sponsors who have keyed into it.
“We have taken it a step further by supporting top performing students by providing paid internship opportunities, as well as seed funding and incubation for viable business ideas. To date, over 1,200 RSW scholars have benefited from internship placements, and another 2,000 scholars from the 2018 graduating class will also be placed in internships,” Gov Ambode said.
He disclosed that the first place winners of the 2016 Ready-Set-Work Business Pitch Competition, who got seed funding and incubation support, were already making impact in the society with the production of up to 10,000 litres of biogas daily within a community in Ikorodu, with zero carbon emission, while other graduates were adding value in top companies and countless small businesses across the state.
The Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, said the RSW programme had bridged the gap between the quality of graduates being churned out from tertiary institutions and the requirement by employers of labour.