1,132 get vocational training, 574 rehabilitated at Fashola’s youth centres

In its bid to fight unemployment, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has trained 1,132 youths in various vocations and rehabilitated 574 others at its youths centres across the state.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Enitan Oshodi, said this at a press briefing over the weekend.

"To keep the youth engaged, reduce unemployment, empower the teeming population of youth in the state and enhance the capacity of unemployed graduates, 1,132 youth benefitted from various vocational training in youth centres across the state while 574 were re-orientated through various educational programmes, workshops, seminars and activities on issues such as leadership skills, HIV & AIDS, career development, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and communicable diseases," he said.

Oshodi said the purpose of the trainings was to reduce unemployment and keep the youth engaged, in recognition of the important role youths play.

"The state government recognises the important role the youth play in nation building; As a result, the ministry has pursued with vigour various youth development programmes to engender in them the common objectives of nation building through well designed programmes, seminars, conferences, training and workshops; engaging and empowering the teeming population of youths through entrepreneurial programmes."

He added that the ultimate aim of the trainings is to reduce social vices.

“The services are targeted towards promoting social change and reducing social vices such as fraud, sexual violence and harassment, unemployment, illicit drug use, armed robbery, cultism amongst others through character reforming programmes, discovering , nurturing and grooming innate talents and potentials of the youth to make them useful to themselves and the nation as a whole.

gathered that about 19,207 pupils were also counselled by the Ministry's School Social Service Unit.