RETIREES GET START-UP PACKS AS LAGOS GRADUATES FIRST ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASS
As a way of redefining retirement and promoting economic self-reliance, the Lagos State Government has graduated its first batch of retiring civil servants from a transformative Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
At the graduation ceremony held recently at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, 100 retirees received certificates and start-up packs to help launch their new ventures after decades of dedicated public service.
The initiative, under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, aims to equip retiring officers with practical business skills, financial literacy, and the right mindset to transition smoothly from civil service into successful entrepreneurs, wealth creators, and community builders.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Shuaheeb Agoro, noted that the initiative underscores the present administration’s dedication to preparing public servants for a productive life beyond service.
He described the training as a clear demonstration of the State Government’s resolve to empower its workforce for financial independence after retirement.
“This initiative is a directive of Mr. Governor to ensure that our retirees do not just step aside but step forward, equipped with the knowledge and skills to become successful entrepreneurs, mentors, and community builders,” Mr. Agoro stated.
The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, highlighted that the programme, themed ‘Entrepreneurship Beyond Service: Retire, Reignite, Rebuild’, was carefully designed to equip participants with practical business skills, financial literacy, and mindset re-orientation needed to transition smoothly into entrepreneurship.
“Retirement should not mark the end of one’s productive years but rather the beginning of new opportunities to create wealth, build legacies, and contribute to economic growth,” Hon. Ajigbotafe said.
He commended the retiring officers for their years of dedicated service across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, urging them to leverage their newly acquired entrepreneurial skills to add value to their communities.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, ESV. Olayinka Adebayo Wasiu emphasised that the training goes beyond skills acquisition, it challenges the traditional view of retirement.
“We want our retirees to see themselves as drivers of innovation and change. It is about rediscovering purpose and reigniting passion,” he remarked.
In his remarks, Guest Speaker, Dr. Olajide Basorun, a retired Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, encouraged the graduates to embrace continuous learning, innovation, and networking to succeed in their entrepreneurial pursuits. “Business principles are timeless; applying them diligently will guarantee sustainable growth,” he advised.
On her part, Mrs. Bukola Durodola, Director, Post Service Department, Public Service Office, described the graduation ceremony as a testament to the State Government’s proactive approach to redefining life after service.
She called on stakeholders to support empowerment initiatives for retirees to enable them to thrive in their next chapter.
The high point of the event was the presentation of certificates and start-up packs to 100 newly trained retirees, setting them on a path towards self-reliance and wealth creation.
The comprehensive training covered modules in business development, marketing strategies, financial planning, fish and poultry farming, soap production, and the manufacture of germicides and insecticides.
Participants were also exposed to opportunities for accessing start-up support services.