The Lagos State Government, through the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD) under the Office of Rural Development, has empowered youths in Ikorodu Division with essential digital skills in branding, blogging, and online entrepreneurship. This initiative is part of the Government’s efforts to uplift young people in rural areas. With plans to expand the program across all local governments in Lagos State, the Government aims to foster a new generation of digitally skilled entrepreneurs, ultimately contributing to the state’s economic growth and development.

According to Dr. Nurudeen Yekini Agbaje, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, the initiative is designed to help youths develop their own unique brand, distinguishing themselves from others in the business world. With the rise of social media, the program also aims to equip participants with the skills to leverage these platforms for business growth and increased profits.

The Lagos State Government, under the leadership of the Governor, has demonstrated its commitment to youth development by approving this program. Dr. Agbaje emphasized that the Governor’s interest in empowering youths is genuine, and this initiative is a testament to that commitment.

Dr. Agbaje urged the youths to remain calm, acquire the training provided, and revert to the organizers with any challenges they may face he said, This would enable the ministry to forward their concerns to the Governor for improvement purposes.

Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, expressed her optimism about the program’s potential to take the youths’ businesses to the next level.

The Permanent Secretary extended her gratitude to the Governor for approving the program, emphasizing his crucial role in empowering the youths. She also acknowledged the Special Adviser’s contribution to the program’s success.

According to Mr. Balogun Musbau, Director of the Center for Rural Development, Lagos State, the program was conceived to tackle the challenges faced by rural youths who migrate to cities in search of better opportunities.

The Director explained that statistics reveal that approximately 40% of rural youths who migrate to cities end up without employment, contributing to social issues such as crime. To combat this, Balogun Musbau said the Center for Rural Development has designed the IT capacity building program to bridge the digital divide and provide rural youths with the skills needed to compete in the global ICT landscape.

He emphasized that the program is part of the State Government’s efforts to ensure that rural areas are not left behind in terms of development. By empowering rural youths with IT skills, He said the Government aims to create opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, thereby reducing the allure of city life and mitigating the social issues associated with rural-urban drift.

The program, which has received positive feedback from participants, aims to contribute to the overall development of the Ikorodu division. It is designed to enable youths to become self-sufficient, create jobs, and expand their businesses.

Mariam, a participant, expressed her excitement about the skills she acquired, saying, “I was able to create my business logo and blog, which will help me advertise my fashion business on social media.”

Another participant, Ajayi Michael, also shared his positive experience, stating, “I’ve learned new things today, even though I had a little knowledge about blogging. The training widened my knowledge and gave me the confidence to create my own blog.”