The Lagos State Agency for Mass Education has renewed focus on equipping out-of-school youths and unskilled adults with practical skills, as it convened stakeholders to rethink the role of non-formal vocational education in economic development.
At a stakeholders’ forum held in Ikeja, the agency brought together educators, vocational trainers, policymakers, and development partners to examine how skills training can better translate into employment and entrepreneurship opportunities across Lagos State.
Director of the agency, Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, said the intervention is aimed at strengthening training systems and expanding access to vocational learning for residents outside the formal school structure. She noted that partnerships and improved instructional delivery remain critical to achieving this goal.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Kasali Adeniran, described the forum as a step towards building inclusive opportunities, adding that vocational education must be positioned as a pathway to economic participation, not a last resort.
Discussions at the forum focused on practical gaps within the system. Sessions examined the capacity of instructors, the transition from skills acquisition to enterprise, and the role of mental health in sustaining productivity among trainees.
Speakers also addressed challenges such as funding constraints, low confidence among trainees after learning a skill, and the need to align training with market realities.
Participants shared experiences on how vocational skills can be converted into sustainable income streams, with emphasis on innovation, consistency, and personal development.
Officials said the forum forms part of ongoing efforts by the state government to strengthen non-formal education and ensure that more residents are equipped with relevant skills for self-reliance.
The engagement ended with a call for stronger collaboration between government agencies, private sector players, and training institutions to scale up impact and make vocational education more responsive to current economic needs.
