3,000 Youths To Benefit From Lagos Creative Vault Empowerment Programme

The Lagos State Government has officially launched the Lagos Creative Vault, targeted at empowering 3,000 Lagosians across the state.

This initiative by the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, is designed to provide young people with practical vocational skills, making them to contribute positively to the society.

The pilot phase of the project will kick off with 50 participants, marking the beginning of an ambitious plan to train the participants within a duration of 18 months.

Addressing pressmen at the launch of the initiative at the Lekki Creative Arts and Crafts Market, Idris Aregbe highlighted the significance of the project, saying the project is aimed at empowering young talented individuals to become future leaders in different creative sectors.

Aregbe while underscoring the importance of the initiative in fostering personal growth and community development said, “Today is about passion. Today is about unity. Today is about love. Today is about training. Today is about advancing the essence of life.”

He also emphasised that the state government is committed to empowering the youth and addressing challenges related to street begging activities by offering them a more productive way to positively engage them in various practical skills.

“When we talk about tourism, when we talk about arts, when we talk about culture, if we are not advancing the essence of the next generation, I don’t think we are being serious in this business. And that is the reason we have designed this initiative, to see how we continue to go down to the grassroots, to the community, in a bid to continue to add value to our people.”

The programme’s goal is not only to teach skills but to build a self-sustaining ecosystem where participants will eventually become employers of labour, tapping into the expertise of both local and international trainers.

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In his remarks, Aregbe encouraged the participants to make the most of the opportunity, saying, “Let’s continue to learn from each other, let’s continue to teach ourselves and be the best in whatever we do, most importantly in this top six that we identify.”

The initiative’s first cohort of 50 participants embarked on what Aregbe called “practical pilots” to see firsthand the skills they would be learning, ensuring they realize the potential of the craft.

He noted, “We want them to come and see. Because at times, when you don’t see it, you think it’s not doable. So they’ve gone around the market, they’ve seen what people have been able to do in this market. And what we’re seeing is that we can do it and we can do it better.”

To support this vision, the Lagos Creative Vault has enlisted top industry professionals, including Lagos Creative Vault Consultant, Debo Oyewole, and an international trainer from South Africa, Yulisa Maddy.

Maddy, who is eager to contribute to his Nigerian heritage, spoke passionately about the impact of this program, stating, “It’s a blessing and I’m just proud to be here. My mum is a Nigerian. I really wanted to come and talk about training and nutrition and the importance of keeping good health.”

Maddy, who is committed to ensuring the youth understand the importance of both professional and physical well-being, elaborated on the broader scope of the training, “So the youth and everyone can be aware of how to take care of their body, how you deal with nutrition, what to eat, what’s important so we don’t get sick later – we feel healthy and vibrant and that’s what it’s all about. So if I can give back to my homeland, I would be more than happy to do that.”

The day also featured a celebratory moment as Aregbe marked his birthday with a generous gesture.

The high point of the event was when Idris Aregbe, the Honorable conmissioner distributed N2 million to 10 traders at the Lekki Creative Arts and Crafts Market, offering a boost to their operations and further demonstrating the administration’s commitment to grassroots economic empowerment.