DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Lagos inducts 1,000 interns, pushing program beneficiaries past 8,000

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that over 8,000 young graduates have participated in the state's Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP).
  • The program aims to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the practical experience required by employers, easing the transition to employment.
  • Governor Sanwo-Olu urged the latest cohort of 1,000 beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity by demonstrating professionalism, integrity, and initiative.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has highlighted the significant impact of the state's Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP), announcing that more than 8,000 young graduates have now passed through the initiative. This program is designed to facilitate the crucial transition from university education to the professional workforce.

Learn. Ask questions. Be punctual. Be disciplined. Be innovative. Wherever you are placed, bring value.

— Babajide Sanwo-OluAdvising the new cohort of interns on how to maximize their placement.

Speaking at the onboarding ceremony for 1,000 new beneficiaries, organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the program's role in addressing the disconnect between academic credentials and the practical skills employers demand. He urged the new interns to approach the placement not just as a temporary assignment, but as a vital pathway into their future careers.

The governor said many graduates encountered difficulties entering the workforce because, despite having academic qualifications, they lacked exposure to professional environments and the practical competencies required to function effectively in them.

— The PunchExplaining the rationale behind the GIPP program.

"Learn. Ask questions. Be punctual. Be disciplined. Be innovative. Wherever you are placed, bring value," Sanwo-Olu advised the graduates. He stressed that the experience gained during the internship is instrumental in enhancing employability. Moreover, their conduct and performance during the placement could directly influence future career opportunities.

He said GIPP was intended to close that gap by placing graduates in workplaces where they could acquire hands-on experience, develop professional competencies and build networks that could support their careers.

— The PunchFurther elaborating on the program's objectives.

The governor explained that GIPP was established to equip graduates with hands-on experience, develop professional competencies, and foster networking opportunities. He noted that the program reflects the administration's ongoing commitment to youth employment and human capital development. Sanwo-Olu also called upon participating employers to view the program as more than just a source of temporary labor, encouraging them to invest in the interns' development.

Wherever you are placed, bring value.

— Babajide Sanwo-OluReiterating the importance of contributing value during the internship.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog