Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed the desire of his administration to build sustainable and affordable housing projects across the metropolis leveraging on raw talent from within the space, promoting local content in the built sector in order to bridge the over 15,000 skill gaps in the sector.
Sanwo-Olu, remarked on Wednesday, at the graduation and presentation of certificates, and working tools to 200 trained master craftsmen in the built sector after six weeks of intensive training,” held at Ikeja, area of the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Ajigbotafe Akinyemi, In company of Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Abdulafiz Toriola, among other top government functionaries.
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Accord to Sanwo-Olu, “We are here to celebrate our Master Craftsman Programme graduands, the first of its kind in Nigeria and a fulfilment of promise to the good people of Lagos State especially with regards to our commitment to uplift our youths and develop the housing value chain.
“As a government, we have consistently identified gaps in the various sectors of the economy and equally set plans in motion to address them.
“Hence our desire to build sustainable and affordable housing projects across the State leveraging on raw talent from within our space, promoting local content, especially in areas such as masonry; furniture and carpentry; plumbing and pipe fitting; electrical installation and maintenance; painting and decoration.
Sanwo-Olu, remarked on Wednesday, at the graduation and presentation of certificates, and working tools to 200 trained master craftsmen in the built sector after six weeks of intensive training,” held at Ikeja, area of the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Ajigbotafe Akinyemi, In company of Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Abdulafiz Toriola, among other top government functionaries.
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Accord to Sanwo-Olu, “We are here to celebrate our Master Craftsman Programme graduands, the first of its kind in Nigeria and a fulfilment of promise to the good people of Lagos State especially with regards to our commitment to uplift our youths and develop the housing value chain.
“As a government, we have consistently identified gaps in the various sectors of the economy and equally set plans in motion to address them.
“Hence our desire to build sustainable and affordable housing projects across the State leveraging on raw talent from within our space, promoting local content, especially in areas such as masonry; furniture and carpentry; plumbing and pipe fitting; electrical installation and maintenance; painting and decoration.
“in addition, we are committed to not only growing the capacity of artisans but also networking them to potential markets and making them the first priority for our housing projects across the state.
“In line with this commitment, the graduating class will be added to the data base and uploaded on the website of the state government in a bid to give them global recognition.
“In pursuance of our commitment to youth empowerment and the growth of the informal sector, we will create additional centres towards engaging more artisans in the subsequent phases of this programme.
“The objective is to further bridge the over 15,000 skill gaps in the built sector and ultimately stimulate the provision of sustainable, decent and affordable housing projects for the State.
“We are not just graduating artisans; we are also giving them the required tools to push through the skills gathered in the cause of the intensive training facilitated by qualified and certified trainers.”
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Sanwo-Olu, commended the graduands for their patience, sacrifice, and perseverance throughout the period of their training.
“I implore you to go out and demonstrate the skills that you have learnt, to positively impact your life and the society.”
