By ADEPOTE AROWOJOBE

Forty-one youths across Lagos East Senatorial District on Friday concluded training under the Sen. Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) programme, with three start-ups bagging a total N3million as seed capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was done in partnership with Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and Co-creation Hub (Cc-Hub), a renowned technology and social enterprise company.

Participants were selected from Kosofe, Somolu, Ikorodu, Epe and Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas that make up the Lagos East senatorial district.

The three beneficiaries of seed capital were among the best 10 who made presentations to stakeholders on their plans to grow their businesses.

The best participant received N1.5million, first runner-up N1million while the second runner-up received N500, 000.

Abiru said that the SAIL initiative provides relevant technology, business and digital skills to tech enthusiasts and young entrepreneurs across the district.

According to him, participants, in the last three months, learnt how to build and nurture businesses into profitability through use of technology.

“There is a need to invest in human capital, particularly on our youths,” he said.

Abiru said the programme was to empower young people and entrepreneurs in his constituency, leveraging his global exposure and experience.

“It is to make them globally competitive by equipping them with premium digital, innovative and technological skills which are in high demand globally.

“This is in keeping with the social contract that I had with the people of the Lagos East Senatorial district when seeking election,” Abiru said.

He said that SAIL has about five pilot programes, with some participants undergoing training in different areas for between three and six months.

He said that the first set, which was Business 101 for Artisans and Creatives, was designed for talented ones in the categories of fashion, design and crafts.

“We actually have about five pilot programmes; the one we are having today is for three months, the others are still leveraging their own, which is about six months.

“Business 101 beneficiaries have come here today to display some of the business concepts, which is where the world is going right now.

“Our expectation is to train minimum of 300 people in a year to become self employed; 70 per cent of the class will get placement for jobs while 30 per cent will get themselves employed,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Ojoma Ochai, Managing Partner, the Creative Economy Practice, (CCHub) commended Abiru for initiating programmes that would make young entrepreneurs to be accepted globally.

Ochai enjoined them to put into practice what they had learnt so far during the training and be good ambassadors which the initiator could be proud of.

One of the beneficiaries, John Olisa, commended the senator for bringing such programme.

He appealed to all the beneficiaries to explore all they learnt during the three-month training programme.

NAN reports that all 41 participants were issued certificates. (NAN)

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