In its bid to reduce unemployment and promote entrepreneurship development, the Lagos State Government is partnering with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to encourage Corps members posted to the State to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills in order to be self-reliant.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who stated this at the opening of the orientation course for the Year 2017 Batch B, Stream II, noted that while government is making efforts to bridge the unemployment gap, it has provided a platform for entrepreneurs to develop their skills, while also making available, start-up capital to help put them in business.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, added that the State government plans to support young people to become job and wealth creators by providing them with start-up capital through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.

While urging corps members to be diligent, dedicated and law-abiding in the discharge of their duties, Ambode also advised them to exhibit qualities like tolerance, patriotism, honesty and perseverance during the orientation course.

“I have no doubt that this orientation course will adequately prepare you for the next phase of your service year in which you are expected to exhibit good qualities like tolerance, patriotism, honesty, diligence and perseverance in your various place of primary assignment”, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Prince Mohammed Momoh stated that a total of 2, 279 Corps members comprising of 992 male and 1,287 female have been registered to participate in the orientation course.

The Coordinator said that since the commencement of the orientation course, the Corps members have been well behaved and responding to the training schedule while exhibiting a high sense of commitment that will make the orientation course a hitch-free exercise.