In pursuit of its policy of inclusivity, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has partnered with Food Bay to empower the youth, particularly the informal youths.
In his keynote address at an event held at Alausa today, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende stated that the Ministry was partnering with the Food Bay to ensure that the youths in the State are financially empowered and upskilled to do better in food business.
He said, “This is to celebrate the vibrant culinary skills of the youth and upscale their culinary talents. It is also for them to develop their entrepreneurial skills. This is a powerful vehicle for the economic empowerment of the youth. This partnership will yield tangible results in the long run”.
In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu described the partnership as a laudable project that resonated well with the Ministry as it would help the state government in empowering the informal youths.
In her words, “This project is important to us as a Ministry because our youths need to be empowered. Street Food is a huge business across the globe that is yielding profits in billions of naira in Nigeria. The Ministry is more than willing to start and sustain this partnership because it is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 2 and it is also in line with our Governor’s policy of Social Inclusion”.
Earlier, the Director, Youth Development, Mr. Abdulateef Saka stated that the Ministry decided to key into the programme as part of efforts at implementing the Lagos State Youth Policy which encapsulates various aspects of the young people that need government attention, adding that the task of developing the youth cannot be accomplished by the government alone.
On his part, Managing Director/CEO, Food Bay, Mr. Femi Ogundoro appreciated the State Government for the partnership and promised to make the Season V of the programme being unveiled better than the previous one.
“Street Food Naija is a platform close to my heart to reposition the way vendors in the business are perceived. Through branding and mentorship, we have been able to change the narrative. It is a game changer that has helped many youths to scale up their food business, create employment and increase profits through value creation. It has also become an alternative source of income for many. We believe Nigeria is the next country when it comes to food business and we intend to put African food on the world map through branding and packaging”, Ogundoro noted.
