Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Saturday flagged off the One Lagos Fiesta (OLF), urging youths and entrepreneurs in the state to take full advantage of the N25billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF) initiative of his administration to grow their businesses and become self reliant.
Speaking at the Agege Stadium on day one of the annual end of the year revue put together by the state government, Ambode said the ETF was specifically designed to create greater opportunities for youths to be gainfully engaged and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Lagos.
The governor said over N6billion has already been earmarked to be disbursed annually through the ETF initiative, and that about N1billion of the fund will be pushed to the Agege division.
“I want to encourage all our youths because we are creating greater opportunities for all of you. I want you to take opportunity of applying for the Employment Trust Fund. We have monies already established to take care of your expertise.
“Those of you who are very creative; those of you who are artistic; those of you who are entrepreneurial in outlook; we have money that we will be ready to give to you to start your own business.
“We have earmarked over N6billion and we intend to push N1billion to this particular division. So, it is left for all of you to bring out your best. Whatever it is that you are doing, if you can’t get a white collar job, the ETF is there for you to help promote your business,” Ambode said.
While expressing the resolve of the government to use entertainment, arts and sports to promote tourism, the governor assured that his administration will continue to open up the tourism potential of the state with the view to getting the best from the youths.
To this end, the Governor said by 2017, government would construct an art theatre and a cinema in Igando and also build five new theatres in Ikorodu, Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, Badagry and Epe to give greater opportunities to the youths.
He, however, urged the people to remain peaceful and shun any criminal activity.
Explaining the rationale behind OLF, Ambode said it was a way of creatively engaging the youths to bring out the best in them, saying that the 2016 edition was arranged to be better, bigger and bolder than that of 2015, adding that a total of 40 shows would hold simultaneously for eight days in Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Agege and Victoria Island.
Earlier, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, commended Ambode for the initiative, especially for flagging the fiesta off in Agege, saying it was a thing of joy that people could have the best of fun in the area without having to travel to a far place.
He urged the people to maintain peace and say no to all forms of criminality.
Entertainers who performed on the opening day in Agege include Sir Shina Peters, Queen Salawa Abeni, Phyno, MI and Reminisce, with comedian, Omo Baba, anchoring.
