The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said 4,000 graduates in the state will be paid N40,000 monthly for six months through its Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP) intended to address unemployment.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke while addressing reporters as part of activities to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office.
According to the commissioner, the programme, planned to last for six months, would expose interns to a particular job, profession or industry and enhance networking. The interns, according to her, will be given the opportunity to excel and possibly learn a job with the organisation as they are exposed to professional skills and interpersonal relationships in a structured setting.
She said: “The GIPP is to assist Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and other companies to choose from the state’s database of groomed talent/interns, to enhance productivity and boost their businesses, thereby promoting economic growth at no cost through government’s intervention.
“51,514 graduates applied for the internship online; over 1,932 companies indicated interest to onboard the interns after their trainings and 4,736 applicants attempted the online assessment test.
“About 1,000 candidates who scored a minimum of 60 per cent were invited for the first tranche of the training, 4,000 interns are targeted to be placed on a monthly stipend of N40,000 for six months.”
Speaking further, Arobieke said 123,720 jobs have been created and 14,646 small businesses supported since the ministry was established in 2015, adding that 51,142 new tax payers were on-boarded and 3,395 young persons were placed in jobs.
