The President of Greater Lagos Initiative (GLI), Prince Adeniyi Olutimehin accompanied by Mrs. Adeyemi Dawodu (Secretary), Comrade Omowunmi Fatile (Coordinator, GLI Mushin LGA), Comrade Kazeem Fatoyinbo (Coordinator, GLI Oshodi-Isolo LGA) and Hon. Ibrahim Bin Abdullahi (member), recently paid a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment. The GLI team was warmly received by Permanent Secretary Esv. Wasiu Olayinka Adebayo alongside senior ministry staff, in a meeting marked by shared vision and a spirit of collaboration.

Olutimehin used the opportunity to eulogise Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his uncommon efforts in capacity building, productivity enhancement, and socio-economic empowerment of artisans, professionals, youth, women, and vulnerable groups. He commended the Ministry’s life-changing programmes for tangibly improving livelihoods across Lagos.

He specifically acknowledged several key initiatives under Sanwo-Olu’s administration, including:

The Artisan Up-skilling and Empowerment Programme, which trained over 7,400 artisans and tradesmen, provided working tools and grants to 4,900 beneficiaries, and equipped 1,200 artisans with modern equipment following intensive vocational training.

The Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP), which in 2024 onboarded 2,383 interns, offered soft skills training, placed them in 696 private-sector organisations, and facilitated many into permanent jobs.

Strategic upskilling programs in digital skills, ICT, agro-tech, and entrepreneurship, delivered in partnership with WAVE Academy, Jobberman, MacTay Consulting, among others, including the near-complete Lagos Industrial Leather Hub in Matori.

Major economic infrastructure projects such as the Imota Rice Mill, Africa’s largest rice-processing plant capable of producing 2.8 million 50kg bags annually and creating thousands of jobs.

Responding to Olútìmehìn’s presentation, Permanent Secretary Esv. Wasiu Olayinka Adebayo commended the GLI team for their steadfast support for Lagos State Government programmes that positively impact lives. He affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to rolling out meaningful programmes to galvanize Lagos residents and pledged future collaborations with the Greater Lagos Initiative.

The meeting closed with optimism from both sides for a fruitful partnership aimed at expanding wealth creation, job opportunities, and empowerment across every community in Lagos State.