The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship by donating business tools and disbursing over ₦5 million in grants to beneficiaries of the StartRight Lagos Entrepreneurship Programme, as part of efforts to promote economic inclusion, wealth creation and job sustainability.
The graduation and business pitching ceremony, held at Alausa, Ikeja, brought together 250 aspiring entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium-scale enterprise (MSME) owners from across the state. The participants were equipped with practical skills, an entrepreneurial mindset and solid business foundations, in line with the objectives of the programme.
StartRight Lagos is a flagship initiative of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration under the THEMES Plus Agenda, aligned with the state’s vision for skills development, inclusive growth, wealth creation and sustainable employment. The programme, implemented in partnership with W-Holistic Business Solutions, featured weeks of intensive training in financial literacy, record-keeping, brand development, digital skills and business growth strategies. Participants underwent a mix of physical and virtual boot camps, complemented by hands-on mentorship and exposure to real-world business tools.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the House Committee on Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Foluke Osafile, described the initiative as a timely and strategic intervention that empowers young people to build financially sustainable businesses. She commended Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment for their sustained commitment to youth empowerment and economic development.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, described StartRight Lagos as a purposeful, results-driven initiative designed to transition Lagosians from ideas to execution and from survival to sustainability. He said the programme focuses on building confidence, discipline and capacity, beyond conventional entrepreneurship training.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Lolade Aina, said StartRight Lagos was designed to help entrepreneurs build strong foundations from the outset, noting that many businesses fail not because the ideas lack potential, but because they are built on weak structures. She added that the quality of ideas presented during the pitching session reflected the effectiveness of the training and the readiness of the graduates for long-term success.
Providing an overview of the programme, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of W-Holistic Business Solutions, Mrs. Lanre Oniyitan, outlined its structure and outcomes, while the ministry commended facilitators, mentors and members of the panel of judges for their professionalism and dedication.
At the end of the final pitching session, Ms. Oluwakemi Olajiyan of Nutraboom Nutrition emerged overall winner and received a cash prize of ₦2 million. Ms. Olamide Olajide of Shoniverse Leathers came second with ₦1.5 million, while Ms. Deborah Fadunsanya of The De Savour Shop placed third with ₦1 million. In addition, 30 existing business owners received laptops, while 170 participants benefited from financial grants.
