The Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area in Lagos State, Hon. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, has emphasized the need for stronger partnerships to tackle youth unemployment. He made this call at the Public Impact Partnership Conference organized by the German Development Cooperation. The conference brought together government officials, development partners, and private sector leaders to explore ways to promote inclusive economic growth through public infrastructure investments.
Olowa stressed that addressing youth unemployment requires coordinated efforts among different tiers of government and private-sector operators. He urged local governments to identify economic opportunities within their jurisdictions and establish mechanisms to connect residents, particularly young people, with available jobs and emerging industries. His administration is pursuing initiatives to link residents to employment opportunities in Ibeju-Lekki's expanding industrial zones.
The conference provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and share experiences on translating public investments into employment opportunities and sustainable development. Olowa highlighted the need to strengthen vocational and digital skills training to equip young people with the competencies required to compete for jobs in the modern economy. This, he believes, is crucial in addressing youth unemployment.
Support for youth entrepreneurship is another key component of efforts to address unemployment, according to Olowa. He emphasized the importance of providing young business owners with institutional backing to establish sustainable enterprises. This, he believes, will help create jobs and improve livelihoods in local communities.
Olowa also stressed the need to ensure that public infrastructure projects deliver measurable benefits to local communities, particularly vulnerable groups and families. He noted that growing economic activity in Ibeju-Lekki offers opportunities to improve residents' livelihoods if deliberate policies and effective partnerships support them.
The Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area is experiencing rapid industrial and economic expansion, which Olowa believes can be leveraged to create jobs and improve livelihoods. He identified the need for collaboration among local governments, state institutions, and the private sector to tackle youth unemployment and ensure public infrastructure investments create jobs.
The Public Impact Partnership Conference was a high-level event that brought together stakeholders to explore ways to promote inclusive economic growth through public infrastructure investments. Olowa's call for stronger partnerships to tackle youth unemployment was a key highlight of the conference, which aimed to translate public investments into employment opportunities and sustainable development.
Key points
- Olowa calls for stronger partnerships to tackle youth unemployment
- Conference aims to promote inclusive economic growth through public infrastructure investments
- Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area is experiencing rapid industrial and economic expansion
