Sanwo-Olu approves internship programme for 4,000 unemployed graduates

GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has approved Internship Programme for 4,000 unemployed graduates in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of his administration and the Youth Development Programme of the State.

The scheme is part of efforts to reduce the rate of unemployment in Lagos State, Naija Times was told.

Speaking recently on the programme with newsmen, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Yetunde Arobieke, said the Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP) is designed to give candidates the opportunity to develop employability and work-ready skills that are needed in securing gainful employment.

She disclosed that the beneficiaries of the programme will be paid a monthly stipend of N40,000 for the six months duration of the internship.

According to the commissioner, the Internship Programme will be addressing the third and fourth pillars of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, which are Education and Technology and Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, while the beneficiaries

Arobieke informed that at the end of the training period, interns would have gained valuable applied work experience, built up their professional skills and would have been exposed to possible entrepreneurial opportunities to strengthen their professional skills and interpersonal relationship.

The commissioner, therefore, implored interested candidates to apply through the dedicated link for the programme: gipplasg.lagosstate.gov.ng.

Arobieke, however, said parts of the prerequisites for participation in the programme include: applicants must possess NYSC Certificates or letters of exemption, and must be registered residents of the State with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA.

Over 50 off-takers have shown interest in having the Interns work in their organisations, said the commissioner.

The selection process, said the commissioner, will be transparent as successful candidates after taking an online test will be trained on employability skills for two weeks and evaluated.

She added that they will, subsequently, be placed on six months paid Internship with private organisations and selected public agencies in line with their qualification.