The Youth Bureau has commended Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for the latest phase of the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI), describing the empowerment of 3,792 residents as a practical demonstration of what youth-inclusive and people-centred governance should look like.
The beneficiaries received business equipment at an empowerment programme held on August 4, 2026, at De Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja. The intervention provided tools and equipment to residents involved in tailoring, photography, catering, baking, hairdressing, barbing, agriculture, food processing, vulcanising and other trades.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Adekunle Adeosun, the Youth Bureau said the significance of the initiative goes beyond the distribution of equipment. According to the organisation, providing people with the means to turn skills into businesses can strengthen household incomes, create employment and contribute to a more productive local economy.
“The most valuable aspect of empowerment is not simply teaching someone a skill; it is giving that person a realistic opportunity to put the skill to work. This is why the latest MESI intervention deserves recognition,” the statement said.
The organisation noted that young Nigerians are increasingly interested in programmes that provide practical economic opportunities rather than promises without follow-through. For many young entrepreneurs, access to equipment remains one of the major barriers between acquiring a skill and establishing a viable business.
The Youth Bureau therefore described the MESI approach as particularly relevant because it attempts to bridge that gap.
According to the organisation, the Lagos economy depends heavily on small businesses, artisans, traders, women entrepreneurs and young people whose daily activities sustain communities and create employment.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while speaking at the programme, described the intervention as part of his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and economic empowerment. He emphasised that supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs is essential to strengthening the wider Lagos economy.
The Youth Bureau said this philosophy deserves attention because economic development cannot be measured only through large infrastructure projects.
“Major infrastructure is important, but development must also reach the individual entrepreneur, the young person learning a trade, the woman running a small business and the artisan trying to expand his or her enterprise. These are the people who make the economy work every day.”
The organisation also highlighted the scale of the broader empowerment programme. According to the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, more than 35,000 residents have graduated from the ministry’s tuition-free Skills Acquisition Centres, while nearly 19,000 beneficiaries have received start-up equipment through MESI since the beginning of the Sanwo-Olu administration.
The Youth Bureau said these figures demonstrate the importance of connecting skills development with access to productive resources.
It urged beneficiaries of the latest intervention to treat the equipment as business assets and use them to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and support their families.
The organisation also called for continued monitoring and follow-up support for beneficiaries, including business training, access to markets, financial literacy and opportunities to connect with larger value chains.
“Empowerment becomes truly meaningful when beneficiaries are able to grow beyond the initial intervention. We therefore encourage continued support that will help these entrepreneurs transform small beginnings into sustainable businesses.”
The Youth Bureau commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for maintaining an economic inclusion agenda that recognises the role of ordinary residents in the growth of Lagos.
It said the latest MESI intervention sends an important message to young people: that entrepreneurship, vocational skills and small businesses remain legitimate pathways to economic independence when supported by the right ecosystem.
The organisation concluded by encouraging young Lagosians to take advantage of available skills, enterprise and innovation opportunities while remaining committed to building sustainable businesses.
“Every successful entrepreneur creates more than personal income. They create opportunities for others. When thousands of people receive the tools to become productive, the entire economy benefits. This is why the empowerment of 3,792 Lagos residents represents an investment not only in today’s livelihoods but also in the future of Lagos.”
Signed:
Adekunle Adeosun
Publicity Secretary
The Youth Bureau
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