To jumpstart their careers, the Lagos State Government pledged to empower the beneficiaries with essential work tools and financial grants.
The first batch of 570 students has graduated from the ‘Eko Studio Culture’ youth empowerment programme of the Lagos State government, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu restating his administration’s commitment to building a 21st-century economy where creative talent can flourish.
The intensive, free four-month training programme produced skilled professionals including disc jockeys (DJs), sound designers, audio mixers, recording artists, sound engineers, and music producers.
To jumpstart their careers, the Lagos State Government pledged to empower the beneficiaries with essential work tools and financial grants.
In his address at the event held in Alausa on Tuesday, Governor Sanwo-Olu—represented by the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat—said initiatives like the Eko Studio Culture reflect the administration’s core belief that the greatest wealth of Lagos is its people.
“By investing in skills development and entrepreneurship, we are empowering our young people not merely to seek opportunities but to create them,” the Governor said. He noted that the creative economy is no longer viewed simply as entertainment but as one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, generating jobs, attracting investment, and driving innovation.
To back this up, Sanwo-Olu highlighted that Lagos recently unveiled a ₦10 billion Cooperative Fund to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which will include businesses established by graduates of the Eko Studio Culture Programme.
He explained that the 570 young men and women were carefully selected from across the five administrative divisions of the State to ensure equal opportunity. Charging them to embrace innovation and technology to build globally competitive brands rather than relying solely on paid employment, Sanwo-Olu offered some strong advice.
“To our graduates: think beyond employment. Become employers. Think beyond creating content; create businesses and build brands that can compete across Africa and the world,” he urged. “A creative idea developed in Lagos today can reach millions tomorrow. Remember that your talent may open the first door, but your character, professionalism, and consistency will keep those doors open.”
On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, stated in his welcome address that the empowerment programme will continue next year with no restrictive registration criteria. Both formal and informal learners qualify for participation.
Ajigbotafe noted that the initiative was designed to give young Lagosians immediately practical skills. Through classroom sessions, virtual learning, hands-on training, and direct mentorship from industry professionals, participants gained deep experience in their chosen fields.
