- Lagos Turns Retirees into Entrepreneurs with New Training Initiative
- 100 retirees receive certificates and starter packs
- Ajigbotafe praised the retirees for their years of service across various Ministries
In a bid to redefine retirement and foster economic independence, the Lagos State Government has graduated its first group of retiring civil servants from an intensive Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the graduation ceremony, held recently at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, saw 100 retirees receive certificates and starter packs to help launch their businesses after years of dedicated service.
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The programme, part of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, is designed to equip retirees with practical business knowledge, financial literacy, and the right mindset to successfully transition from public service into entrepreneurship, wealth creation, and community leadership.
Speaking at the event, Head of Service Mr. Olabode Shuaheeb Agoro highlighted the administration’s commitment to preparing civil servants for productive lives after retirement.
He described the training as a strong indication of the government’s effort to empower its workforce for financial stability beyond service.
“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.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, explained that the programme, titled “Entrepreneurship Beyond Service: Retire, Reignite, Rebuild,” was carefully structured to give participants the tools they need for business success.
“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 praised the retirees for their years of service across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, urging them to apply their new entrepreneurial skills to uplift their communities.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, ESV Olayinka Adebayo Wasiu, emphasized that the programme goes beyond skill acquisition and challenges conventional notions of retirement.
“We want our retirees to see themselves as change agents and innovators. It’s about rediscovering purpose and reigniting passion,” he said.
Guest speaker Dr. Olajide Basorun, a retired Permanent Secretary, advised participants to embrace lifelong learning, innovation, and networking. “Business principles are timeless; applying them wisely will lead to sustainable success,” he stated.
Mrs. Bukola Durodola, Director of the Post Service Department at the Public Service Office, described the graduation as proof of the state’s forward-thinking approach to life after public service. She urged stakeholders to support similar initiatives that empower retirees.
A highlight of the event was the distribution of certificates and business starter kits to the 100 graduates, launching them toward economic self-reliance and wealth generation.
The comprehensive training covered topics such as business development, marketing strategies, financial planning, fish and poultry farming, soap making, and the production of disinfectants and insecticides. Participants were also introduced to available support services for new businesses.
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