LASG Targets 2,000 Graduates for Internship

• LASG Targets 2,000 Graduates for Internship

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, has commenced its internship training of 2,000 graduates in partnership with MacTay Consulting Limited.

As part of the Graduate Internship Programme, the ministry said the beneficiaries would gain work experience and exposure in their chosen trades.

Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday at a breakfast meeting with stakeholders, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, said the interns would be selected through a transparent, accountable and inclusive process.

According to him, the government understands the role the private sector plays in job creation and is leveraging the opportunity to address the employability skills deficit among Nigerian graduates.

He explained that the three-month paid internship for graduates below 30 years would prepare them for the work life and strengthen their professional and interpersonal skills.

Durosinmi-Etti stated, “We are creating an enabling environment. We are working with the private sector to rekindle its trust in the government. We will mentor and guide them until they become more responsible and stand on their own.

“Our target is to work with 2,000 interns this year. I see a lot of interest in the programme and if our partners want us to scale up, we will gladly do that.”

The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, stressed that the initiative was introduced out of the observation that there was a gradual erosion of the cognitive skills of youths.

While explaining the selection process, the acting Head, Learning and Development Solutions, MacTay Consulting, Mr. Adeyemi Adelekan, said graduates who had shown interest in the scheme would be subjected to an online psychometric test.

He added that candidates would be assessed and matched with employers after a rigorous selection process.

Adelekan said, “We designed a portal called workrelate.com through which stakeholders can view what is going on as far as the internship programme is concerned. Employers will state their specifications and suitable candidates will be selected.

“The interns will report on a monthly basis on what they are doing.”

The ministry said MacTay Consulting Limited and Human Capital Management Solutions had been engaged to work with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and other members of the organised private sector to create employability outlets for prospective interns.