No fewer than 5000 youths from different parts of Lagos State were on Tuesday empowered with Point of Sale (POS) machines to enable the beneficiaries to become self-employed and financially independent.
The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, spoke at the event held in the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, saying the gesture is a pointer to the fact that the Lagos State Government is very keen on alleviating the economic challenges facing the less privileged in the State.
In her words: “There is no doubt that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is a youth-centric Governor who knows where the shoe pinches and that is the reason he is always ready to give his consent and approval to any programme that will benefit residents, especially vulnerable, indigent women and youths”.
She, however, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the machines given to them, adding that there will be strict monitoring of the devices to ensure they are used for the intended purposes.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Administration and Human Resource in the Ministry, Mrs. Aderonke Kudirat Bello, appreciated the Ministry’s partner – Stanbic-IBTC – for its support and supply of the POS distributed to beneficiaries in the bid to ensure a reduction in unemployment among residents of the State.
While noting that the gesture was not just a way of promoting banking institutions but rather a contribution to the alleviation of the financial challenges facing the beneficiaries, Bello also commended Governor Babajide’s administration for the laudable initiative aimed at assisting Lagos youths.
The Regional Manager, Stanbic-IBTC, Mainland, Arinze Anigbogu urged the beneficiaries to supply their accurate data and ensure the details correspond with information on their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) as well as their means of identification.
He emphasised that any beneficiary, who failed to comply with the requested details, would be denied access to the machines and implored the participants to attend the training sessions already organised for enlightenment on the proper use of the machines.