The Lagos State Government has initiated a job fair for unemployed graduates as part of efforts to harness available job opportunities in the private sector and small businesses in the state.

Speaking at the Ikorodu Job Fair, the Commissioner, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said the Job Fair was part of the Graduate Internship Programme recently inaugurated by the state government for the unemployed graduates under the age of 30 years in the state.

He informed that the fair was designed to bring together the Off-Takers (Potential Employers) and the interns together in an enabling environment for effective communication, and to also manage the expectations of both parties.

While noting that the internship will be for three months and participants would be paid a stipend of N25,000 monthly by the state government, the Commissioner stressed that the fair would be replicated in other divisions of the state, adding that the present administration is currently working in collaboration with “Assist-to-Hire” (MacTay Consulting) and Hon. Jimi Benson’s “I Care Foundation” to maximise the opportunity inherent in the programme.

He also advised job seekers to take up volunteering jobs available which he described as an effective way to win the heart of potential employers of labour, adding that volunteering would assist in building employability skills which could not be acquired without the necessary training.