Hamzat Calls for Data-Driven Approach to Jobs, Wealth Creation in Lagos

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has called for a data-driven approach to economic planning and employment generation, saying reliable information is essential to connecting residents with opportunities and ensuring that public investments translate into measurable wealth.

Hamzat made the call on Thursday at the 2026 Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum of the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, held at the Marriott Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, with the theme, “Building an All-Inclusive Data-Driven Economy for Sustainable Wealth Creation.”

The Deputy Governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs. Ore Finnih, said data must go beyond statistics and provide government with accurate information on the number of people entering the labour market, the skills employers require, businesses’ financing needs and opportunities available across local government areas.

He said youth development should be integrated into economic policy rather than treated solely as a social intervention, while calling for greater access to quality education, employable skills, digital infrastructure, finance and mentorship.

Hamzat also stressed the importance of micro, small and medium enterprises in driving job creation, noting that government alone could not provide the employment opportunities required by Lagos’ growing population.

Read Also: Hamzat Inaugurates Lagos APC Campaign Council Ahead of 2027 Elections

He urged stakeholders to assess the impact of empowerment programmes by tracking how many beneficiaries secured jobs, increased their incomes, expanded their businesses or became employers themselves.

“Beneficiary to skill, employment, income, enterprise, job creation and wealth creation,” he said, describing the progression as the economic value chain that should guide government interventions.

The Deputy Governor called for closer alignment between vocational training and labour-market requirements, particularly in emerging industrial corridors such as Lekki-Epe.

He also urged increased investment in emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital commerce and creative technology.

Hamzat further advocated the inclusion of women-owned businesses, persons with disabilities, informal-sector operators and vulnerable households in official economic data to ensure that government planning captures the realities and needs of different groups across the state.

He proposed an integrated Data Compact for Inclusive Wealth Creation, bringing together government, businesses, labour-market information, skills, investment, education and community-level data to help residents identify training, employment, financing and market opportunities.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said the state was strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to build an inclusive economy.

Ajigbotafe disclosed that the ministry had established job fairs across the five divisions of Lagos and trained 1,000 youths in photography, film production and content creation in 2026.

He added that more than 10,000 job seekers had been recorded, with over 850 people recruited.

The Commissioner also introduced the “Ibile Idea,” an economic intelligence framework designed to identify available skills, emerging job opportunities and skills gaps across the state.

The Lagos State Government has continued to position employment, entrepreneurship and skills development as part of its broader economic development agenda, with official state platforms highlighting access to work, business and employment services as key areas of focus.