AMBODE’S QUIET REVOLUTION (2)
Taiwo Ogundipe writes that Akinwunmi Amdode is committed to creating wealth and securing Lagos State
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, expressed optimism that the fund would have multiplier effect with the capacity to create 300,000 direct and 600,000 indirect jobs while about 200,000 new tax payers would be added to the state’s tax net.
He said that the LSETF board, in order to ensure sustainability of the fund, has set its target to raise a minimum of N25 billion from domestic and international donors, in addition to the N25 billion already committed by the state government. He stated further, “Once the pilot phase is completed, we will roll out our loan schemes in all 57 LGAs and LCDAs across Lagos State. The full rollout will see us visit all LGAs to hold stakeholder sessions, where our staff will educate applicants on the application process, and the eligibility criteria for our various schemes. We are also in the process of setting up liaison offices in 20 LGAs, to bring the fund’s activities closer to the people, and increase our points of representation to serve Lagos residents.”
Mr. Oyebode was corroborated by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Dr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, who said Governor Ambode’s administration was committed to ensuring the fund impacts on the lives of Lagosians. The Chairman, House Committee on Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Sola Giwa, assured that members of the House would give the operational guidelines of the fund expeditious passage. “This is one of the pivotal promises of Governor Ambode and I can assure you that the House would do its best to ensure that we do it right,” Giwa said.
Also during the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting (5th in the series) designed to render accounts of stewardship of Governor Ambode’s administration at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, the governor announced, “We will roll out all our empowerment programmes immediately to assist all our youth, artisans and the needy. The funding for the N500 million Lagos State Persons Living with Disability Fund has been provided and beneficiaries will start getting support from this quarter.”
Governor Ambode also disclosed plans to recruit at least 5,000 Neighbourhood Watchers with new recruits expected to earn at least N25, 000 monthly with other allowances. The goal of this scheme is to beef up the security in the state, especially at the community level. He said the neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill which he signed into law on August 15, 2016, was part of efforts to institutionalise and deepen community policing in the state. No doubt this is also enhancing the employment profile of the state.
The governor pushes his employment agenda at every relevant forum. At the One Lagos Fiesta which recently held in Epe area of Lagos, Ambode urged youths in the state to cultivate the habit of working hard in order to be successful, to embrace peace and shun violence. Noting that he set out like most of the youths and became the governor of Lagos State through the grace of God, he promised that his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for the youths to aspire to be who they want to be.
While speaking on the facilities provided for youths in Lagos State, the governor referenced the Employment Trust Fund. “Those of you who are out of school or are graduates now and you do not have jobs; the ETF is available for all of you. Between now and November next year, we are providing an Arts Theatre in Epe. It is going to be a 500-seater Theatre and we will also have a modern cinema here in Epe.
“We are bringing a shopping mall to Epe also. We will create more jobs but I want you to be the best. I will support you and I pray that all the things that I have gained from here, you will gain better ones than me,” he said.
During yet another outing while referring to his efforts in the area of job creation, Ambode recalled that an MoU for the Lagos Smart City was signed with the operators of the Dubai Smart City, while the agreement is expected to bring multi-billion dollar investments to the state, create employment opportunities and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis and the entire Lagos State.
He also recalled that another MoU was signed for the Lagos State Medical Park, adding that the initiative would bring more investment which in turn will create jobs and make Lagos a destination for medical tourism.
The outing was the town hall meeting, which took place at the Muslim Community Praying Ground in Badagry. The governor recalled during the occasion the recruitment of a total of 1,300 teachers for primary schools. He also disclosed that in the next two weeks, the state government would start recruiting another 1,000 teachers for secondary schools across the state.
He also seized the occasion to intimate the state on his future plans, revealing that his administration was working round the clock to build an economy beyond oil, adding, “The future of Lagos is about tourism and services.”
In line with this vision, Governor Ambode made a declaration at the official commissioning of ‘The George’, a hospitality centre in Ikoyi , Lagos, that his administration will take advantage of the huge potential available in the hospitality sector to create jobs for youths in the state. At yet another forum, Ambode declared that Lagos is home to those who can dream big. The governor spoke at the unveiling of the Eko Pearl Towers, a 24-storey state-of-the-art residential building, located within the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island. He said the state has the capacity and wherewithal to accommodate those who can dream big and realise their potential to the fullest. In his words, “Lagos is the land of opportunities and many investment opportunities abound in transportation, entertainment and tourism. Our commitment is to create an environment where your investments are secure and profitable,” he said. He said the Eko Atlantic City Project, when completed, would go a long way to create employment and wealth for the people of the state.
Governor Ambode is also on record as having donated N5 million seed funding to students under the state’s Ready Set Work (RSW) programme. The RSW is an entrepreneurship and employability training programme for final year students of tertiary institutions in Lagos State aimed at preparing them for economic productivity as value-creating employees or employers of labour.
He has approved the sum of N15.5million as seed funding and grants for the programme. At the end of the programme, the top performing students in the employability track will be placed in six-month internship positions with various organisations. The governor said the state was proud of the graduates, adding that his administration believes strongly that the future of the country lies in the hands of the youths. Ogundipe wrote from Lagos