Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, has underscored the need for creative thinking, innovations and eschewing the culture of over-reliance on paid job by Nigerians as a way of solving the rate of unemployment across the country, advocating for the mentality of job creators as against job-seekers.

The commissioner spoke at a Three-Day Capacity Building Retreat organised by the ministry for its management staff.

He said that if the current trend of every university graduate seeking for office employment persists, the creative thinking and possibility of evolving winning ideas by fresh graduates would keep on going into extinction, hence the need to arrest the situation by making people think outside the box by putting necessary machineries in place for nurturing ideas.

Durosinmi-Etti also said that the creation of the ministry was as a result of government’s desire to address unemployment and cushion efforts of already existing wealth creation and employment interventions through vocational centers employment opportunities.

According to him, “The Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is more of an enabler, a link between government and the private sector in the area of unemployment reduction and ensuring that quality skills are given to the right set of people.” He added: “It is only through private sector collaboration that more jobs could be created in order to bridge the unemployment gaps.”

While urging all the staff to imbibe ownership culture and mandate of the ministry in order to vigorously pursue its policy framework, Durosinmi-Etti implored them to redefine their roles by evolving strategies for excellent performance in their various duties.

He maintained that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has not only fulfilled his electoral promise with the establishment of the new Ministry, but has also made a commitment of N25 billion into the Employment Trust Fund for employment and job creation matters.

The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Sola Giwa, in his remarks assured the ministry of the necessary legislative backing in granting approval for the Employment Trust Fund proposed by the State Governor.

He called on participants and staff of the new Ministry not to be deterred by the ‘teething’ challenges like funding which the Ministry might be experiencing at its kick-off stage, but rather focus on the sustainability of ideas and legacies that would be created by them.

The commissioner said that, the task of addressing the challenges of unemployment for all residents in the state is an enormous one, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Fola Pandonu, said that the retreat would further equip participants with the essential skills required to implement the mandate of the State Government.

“You will agree with me that, this Ministry will be kicking off on a ‘plain slate’, that is, we will be breaking new grounds, hence the need to always improve the productivity of staff by providing a platform similar to this such that the capacity to deliver essential quality service delivery for the people of Lagos State can be enhanced,” he said.

•Photo shows Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti.

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