The Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries and the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District at the Upper Chamber of National Assembly, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, as part of his initiatives to drive youth empowerment, has partnered with the Co-Creation HUB to develop a Community Innovation Space for young people within the Lagos East Senatorial District.
The primary purpose of the innovation space according the lawmaker at a media parley with editors to give account of his stewardship in the last 14 months, at his constituency office in Ikorodu, Lagos, Saturday, stated that the hub is to create employment opportunities, inspire grass-roots innovations and build partnerships and networks that will drive economic prosperity and collaboratively solve significant social and business problems.
Senator Abiru alluded that the acronym SAIL, with full meaning Senator Abiru Innovation Lab, was derived from both his father who was also a former Senator and himself, noted that is a unique space that offers cross-functional programmes and opportunities, as well as a basic foundation that can inspire young people in Lagos East (students, graduates, entrepreneurs, job seekers) to gather, learn and create. The space will foster a comfortable and safe environment that will encourage young people to see it as their second home. He noted that 150 youths were selected out of over 4000 applicants and are already undergoing training and are participating in the Five (5) Pilot Programmes at the SAIL Centre in Ikorodu while over one thousand (1000) eligible applicants will be trained online.
The Lagos East senator while highlighting his stewardship to his constituents said “For this year 2022, through collaboration with the leadership of the Senate, the National Assembly, Ministries, Departments, Parastatals and Agencies, we are determined to facilitate people-oriented projects in our other LGAs/LCDAs in the areas of; Health, Education and other required infrastructure”.
“I have been able to facilitate projects worth over 1 Billion Naira in key areas for our constituency in the 2022 Appropriation Act”.
Senator Abiru also disclosed that he would formally unveil N300 million Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan Scheme in April 2022.
He said the loan scheme is under the Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team Foundation (TACT Foundation).
The lawmaker disclosed that he had earlier announced a N100 million Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan at a very low concessional 6% interest rate per annum.
He elucidated that this would be supported by an additional N100 million from the Bank of Industry (BOI) and that the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has also graciously pledged to add N100 million, totaling N300 million.
“The N300Million Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan Scheme will be unveiled next month, April for the benefit of MSMEs, Artisans, and tradesmen in Lagos East,” Abiru said
He noted that through TACT Foundation, he had in October 2021, given out bursaries to 600 brilliant but indigent students in the senatorial district through an endowment instituted.
He said in a deliberate move at spreading prosperity across the Lagos East Senatorial District, his office in partnership with The Fate Foundation and Chartered Standard Foundation organized a Business Workshop/Clinic for 1,000 MSMEs across the Senatorial district.
“The training which attracted Executive Leadership of business-related regulatory agencies and partners like; BOI, SMEDAN, CAC, LIRS, NAFDAC, and LSETF greatly enhanced the capacity of MSMEs in the district.
“In addressing the dearth of knowledge which is one of the major reasons why MSMEs fail, a knowledge pack containing seven valuable books covering areas like; Financial Management, Human Capital, Legal, Strategy, Marketing and Communication, Digital Technology and Tax Management authored by reputable corporations including Deloitte, KPMG, Verraki among others were given free of charge to all trainees. Participants also received Enterprise Development Certificates after the training,” he said.
