We'll put an end to JAPA syndrome - Lagos Commissioner assures youth

Mr. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, has pledged to implement specific wealth creation policies that will increase opportunities for young people in the State to connect to job openings, thereby reducing the desperation of seeking greener pastures in other climes at any cost.

In a recent Keynote Address at the 2023 Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment Job Fair held at LTV Compound, Agidingbi, Ikeja, the Commissioner made this statement.

He said: “We cannot ignore, deny, or bury our heads in the sand because too many of the young people attending this fair may be looking for work abroad and hope to also ‘Japa’. That is why our Ministry organised this job fair because we believe it can be a great chance for some young people to connect with organisations and start a successful future together.

Ajigbotafe went on to say that the Job Fair, which is a platform created by the Ministry for companies and job seekers to interact, allows employers to conduct preliminary interviews, make contacts, and respond to inquiries about the educational requirements or work experience required for specific job opportunities.

“Various job seekers have frequently complained about discriminatory employment placement process, but this Job Fair largely permits an objective selection of candidates. The direct connection between job seekers and employers provided by this fair greatly reduces the possibility of exploitation or bribery by unlicensed middlemen, brokers or agents,” he said.

According to him, given Lagos State’s huge human and material potential, the topic of the job fair, “Connecting Youths With Job Opportunities,” indicated that there are numerous windows of opportunity in the state.

He claims that there are chances in many different disciplines in Lagos State, where thousands of young people are succeeding in their chosen fields and elevating the State to a global level in areas like science and technology, sports, commerce, and entertainment.

“The administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has acknowledged the opportunities and difficulties that every potential job seeker faces; which is why this event was organised to address these and proffer solutions in line with the Governor’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which also focuses on Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and the Youth”, Ajigbotafe averred.