… Promises to Make Artisans Globally Competitive and 21st Century Compliant
Lagos State Government, on Friday, started an eight-week, up-skill training programme for some members of the Lagos State Council for Tradesmen and Artisans, LASCOTA, with a promise to invest in the development of complementary infrastructure and improve the global competitiveness and productivity of artisans.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke made the promise at the flag-off of the 10th Edition of the Tradesmen and Artisans’ Capacity Building Programme held at Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja.
She said that the gesture showed that the State government was not only interested in developing the capacities of University graduates but also lends credence to the value attached to the contributions of Tradesmen and Artisans in the State.
In her words “this training programme which is the upskilling of 500 Artisans across different vocations in the State, is a clear demonstration of our commitment to continually improve the quality of our artisans for global competitiveness.”
The Commissioner, who described members of the informal sector as the engine that drives the economy, said that it becomes imperative for Lagos Artisans to work towards the realisation of a common purpose which is “building a vibrant informal sector for sustainable economic growth”.
Arobieke expressed the State Government’s desire to equip tradesmen and artisans towards becoming 21st Century Artisans in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, assuring that government will ensure that the micro, small and medium enterprise sector, being the umbrella body for the artisans, continues to grow and flourish.
“The potential of the informal sector in creativity, entrepreneurship development, wealth creation, value addition and employment generation are too attractive to be ignored by any discerning government. This Government will continue to create opportunities and an enabling environment for Artisans and MSMEs’ to thrive by focusing on the development of complementary infrastructure that helps to improve competitiveness and productivity locally and globally”, she asserted.
While noting that the artisans being trained are already certified professionals in their various vocations, Arobieke added that the training would further expose the beneficiaries to latest trends and innovations as well as equipment needed in their various vocations to continue to remain relevant among their contemporaries.
Speaking on access to financial support from the State Government, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Boladele Dapo-Thomas stated that the Ministry of Wealth Creation and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) are positioned to strategically empower entrepreneurs, increase their access to finance and create inclusive, sustainable policies and standards among others.
She urged the trainees to reciprocate the gesture of the State government by contributing their quota towards the attainment of a Greater Lagos in order to motivate the government to continue investing in capacity training and development of other LASCOTA members.
The President of LASCOTA, Alhaji Nurudeen Buhari thanked the State government for its ceaseless support towards advancing the vocations of artisans, especially with the annual training programme which had been of immense benefits to past beneficiaries of the gesture.
He assured the State government that the Association would prevail on its members to exhibit good conduct, show teachable dispositions and be punctual the entire duration of the capacity enhancement programme.
