To boost small businesses and empower local entrepreneurs, the Chairman of Agege Local Government Council, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, has disbursed ₦100 million in grants to 1,000 entrepreneurs, including youths and women running micro and small-scale enterprises across the council.
The initiative, unveiled at the graduation ceremony of the Skills Elevation Programme, aims to support start-ups, stimulate local economic growth, and create employment opportunities for residents.
The programme’s announcement took place on Friday at the council secretariat in Agege, where beneficiaries gathered to celebrate their graduation and learn about the ₦100 million business support initiative.
A total of 1,000 participants from across Agege benefitted from the programme’s training component, which combined vocational and technology-focused skills development with financial support to strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship and local productivity.
Speaking at the event, Obasa emphasized that the ₦100 million fund would be injected directly into the local economy to stimulate small businesses. He noted that the initiative is being implemented in partnership with Speed Up Lagos.
Obasa explained that participants received training in areas such as catering, food processing, fashion design, make-up and gele styling, hairstyling, home essentials production, sandal making, and digital technology—equipping them with market-ready, income-generating skills.
He added that the intervention is part of the council’s broader strategy to tackle unemployment, strengthen small businesses, and deepen human capital development within the community.
According to him, the scheme particularly addresses economic challenges faced by young people and women-led enterprises, especially at the informal and start-up levels, where access to skills and capital is often limited.
Obasa reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing policies and programmes that promote entrepreneurship, urging beneficiaries to use the skills and grants responsibly to achieve long-term economic impact.
He also pledged that the council would monitor the programme’s outcomes and expand similar initiatives to deepen inclusive growth across Agege and Lagos State.
Also speaking, the former Agege Council Chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, praised the programme, describing it as a consolidation of the council’s existing empowerment frameworks. He noted that it ensures continuity in community-focused development and reflects a deliberate strategy to expand economic opportunities at the grassroots.
Supporting the initiative, Sherifat Adedoyin, board member of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, said the scheme aligns with the state government’s wider skills acquisition and workforce development agenda, linking practical skills with sustainable livelihoods.
She noted that such initiatives not only provide training but also translate directly into tangible opportunities for beneficiaries.
Following the training, several participants highlighted the programme’s positive impact on their prospects. Kemi Adebayo, trained in catering, said it had strengthened her professional capacity and positioned her to scale her food business, while Olalekan Sanni, a digital technology trainee, described the initiative as timely for young people seeking relevance in the tech-driven economy.
