Caption: From left, Chief Operating Officer, Dataleum, Titilola Bello; Head, Startups, Lagos Innovates, Hakeem Onasanya; Beneficiary, Lagos Innovates Talent Development Programme, Justina Funmilayo; Communications and Corporate Transformation Associate, Honeywell Group Limited (HGL), Adesola Adesina at the career fair and graduation ceremony of the HGL-supported Lagos Innovates programme on Friday, February 3, 2023.
Honeywell Group Limited, in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has concluded the third cohort of the youth-focused Lagos Innovates Programme with a graduation ceremony for 77 successful beneficiaries on Friday, February 2033, at The Philippi Centre, Ikeja.
The graduation ceremony was hosted by training partner, Dataleum, a global talent accelerator, to celebrate the students who successfully completed the exhaustive 4-month training programme.
In its bid to facilitate the growth of Africa’s tech ecosystem, increase youth employment and support the development of entrepreneurial talent, in September 2022, Honeywell Group continued its partnership with LSETF on the innovative programme for the third year running, to train young men and women between the ages of 22 and 40.
From over 1,000 applicants, 260 beneficiaries were shortlisted for the programme, with 77 of the beneficiaries graduating from the first cohort of the session. It is expected that another cohort will begin later in the year, allowing more beneficiaries to join the sought-after programme.
During the three-week training, beneficiaries living in various locations across Lagos received world-class, practical training from training partner, Dataleum, an award-winning edtech company. Data analytics with advanced Excel, Power BI, as well as mentorship and training in soft skills and job preparedness were some of the core aspects of the curriculum.
Speaking at the occasion, Honeywell Group’s Head, Corporate Services, Tomi Otudeko said: “We are proud of these beneficiaries who have worked tirelessly throughout the rigorous programme, and it has been a delight to see their faces light up. More importantly, we are encouraged by the impact this training has had on their lives and how it will cascade to 77 communities across the state.
“As a company, we are deliberate about investing in people and initiatives that will allow us to make positive impact on communities and improve the lives of people. This partnership with the Lagos State Government through LSETF is a key aspect of building the economy of the state and the nation. We look forward to the next session of the programme and being enablers for the expanding vision for the country.”
Lagos Innovates’ Head, Startups, Hakeem Onasanya, said: “One of the major highlights of this initiative, aside from the number of young people we are able to support, is hearing about its impact from the beneficiaries. I applaud the graduates for their commitment to the programme, and we are optimistic that the graduates will go on to do astounding work in their new career path and in service to Lagos State.”
Cohorts B and C are set to begin soon with other training partners, members of the public are encouraged to apply for the next selection round.
Honeywell Group is a leading investment holding company with a deep history of building, scaling and investing in some of West Africa’s most successful businesses. For 49 years, the company has invested in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy — energy, technology, manufacturing, real estate, infrastructure, and financial services — by creating, building, and investing in great businesses that deliver enduring value and improve lives.
