Kunle ADELABU
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mr Akin Oyebode, has revealed that residents of Ikorodu have been given more loan than any other part of the state.
He revealed this during the LSETF grassroots engagement programme held at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, organised to intimate residents on the operations of the body so far.
Oyebode revealed that small business owners across Ikorodu division have received N716million out of the N5.8billion that have so far been given to 7, 843 people in Lagos State.
The event allowed the management of state business support initiative to share its impact and update on its various programmes with residents and small business owners in the division.
It also served the management the opportunity to get first-hand information from the residents on areas of observations and complaints regarding its operations.
In attendance at the event were stakeholders and other residents across the six Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ikorodu Division.
In his speech, Mr Oyebode revealed that more people have benefitted from LSETF in Ikorodu division than any other part of the state.
“In all local governments that we are operating in the state, there’s no place we have given more loan to people than Ikorodu.
“We have borrowed 7,843 people the sum of N5.8billion since inception of the loan,and out of this, we have given N716million to small business owners in Ikorodu.”
While explaining the purpose of the event, he stated that it was part of the review mechanism of the body to come back to the communities to get feedbacks.
“We have set it as part of our agendas to review our operations from time-to-time by getting back to the beneficiaries and others to know about the impact of the loan and other services that we are providing. Through this process, we intend to garner feedbacks to know how we are performing and where we need to work on.
“We are here today to get feedbacks from you the people after some period of our existence and delivering our services.
“Aside from giving the loan, we also engage in training young people in vocational skills like tailoring, bricklaying, production and sound assistants. We don’t just train them, but also secure places of employment for them after graduation.
“We normally consider those that are outstanding during the training. The fact is also that many of them are now employers of labour with the skills they have acquired. We are going to have some of this trained personnel here talking to us.”
Mr Oyebode also revealed the LSETF plans to introduce another programme for those with computer knowledge.
“We are also introducing another programme soon. It is meant for those with computer knowledge. This is because of the importance of IT (Information Technology) knowledge globally. We are doing this to empower our youths because most transactions are done through the internet these days. This would afford them the opportunity to compete in the increasingly competitive global market with aid of IT.
He added that the new IT programme would be introduced in about two months time.
More so, he commended the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunjbiade, for partnering with LSETF in empowering his constituents and enjoined privileged individuals to emulate such gesture.
“Hon SOB Agunbiade and his foundation provided us with N10million to empower the people and LSETF as a body also provided additional N10million which was disbursed to the beneficiaries in Ikorodu.
“We are also calling on other privileged people in Ikorodu and across the state to emulate this gesture by supporting us because government alone cannot do it. If they provide one million naira, we on our part will make available additional One million naira and they can determine those they want us to give the loan to”, he appealed.
Hon Sanai Agunbiade while commending the LSETF for impacting positively on the people, also appealed for more considerations for people of Ikorodu division.
He enjoined residents not to see the loan as their share from the government but a business support that must be positively utilized and repaid.
“This is not a gift. It is a business support initiated by the government to assist our people in their businesses. If you pay back your loan, you are assured of getting more and at the same time, encouraging LSETF to give to others.
“I have been discussing with the Executive Secretary on the need to give more considerations to Ikorodu people because we are more enterprising and business-like, but those that have been given need to show that they are reliable and dependable.
Mrs Tosan Erogbogbo, the Director, Rhoda Youth Centre, Ikorodu, enjoined beneficiaries of LSETF to attend Rhoda Centre for business training and mentorship.
“We do empowerment programmes on how to use loan granted by LSETF and repay it. It’s not just to collect the money, you need to be trained on how to use the money and mentor you to be good businessmen and women.
“We train people in tailoring, video editing, show making, hairdressing and other skills” , she stated.
The event also witnessed testimonies by some beneficiaries of the LSETF loan and training on how the initiatives have impacted positively on their lives and businesses while several others also gave suggestions, commendations and complaints about not getting the loan despite fulfilling necessary requirements during the question and answer session.
Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) is an initiative of the Lagos State under the govermnent of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, created as part of its commitments to boost the State’s economy through job creation, leverage and access to finance for Micro, Small, Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) and Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs) operating in the State.
The Fund is targeted at registered Lagos residents irrespective of their political leanings, religions, genders or tribal affiliations.
