RSW: 5,000 students jostle for 2,000 internship placement opportunities

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

No fewer than 5,000 students from tertiary institutions in Lagos State are jostling for 2,000 internship placement opportunities from companies across the state under the Ready.Set.Work (RSW) initiative of the Lagos State Government.

In line with the curriculum of the RSW initiative, a career fair was organised for final year students of the eight tertiary institutions participating in the programme. The fair was held on Saturday at the University of Lagos.

Out of the 5,000 students, who took part in the fair, the best 2,000 students would be selected to take part in six months internship placement with about 300 companies across the state.

The students were interviewed by the companies of their choices. Some of them took parts in interviews in three companies in order to scale up their chances of being selected.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh said more than 300 companies were in partnership with the State Government to provide graduates of the RSW a six-month internship placement with the aim of equipping the participants with practical work experience to enable them stand out in line with the core objective of the RSW initiative.

Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe advised that the programme should be sustained and replicated in other States.

He appealed to students to make the best use of the opportunities given to them by being serious and ensure that they acquire the necessary skills that would be of benefit to them in the future.

“This programme is unique and it shows that a government runs in Lagos. Last year, 2,000 students participated and this year, it increased to 5,000. Over 200 organisations are involved in this programme. This is what governance is all about.

“The Lagos State Government has done well by bringing in private sector organisations to be involved in this programme. This programme belongs to the people and we are also actively involved,” he said.

One of the students, who took part in the fair, Alabi Olamilekan, 23, a 400 level final year Political Science student at the University of Lagos, said he was optimistic of his chances of being one of the lucky 2,000 students to be selected to undergo internship.

Another student, Olajumoke Agbetanmije, 21, a 400 level student at the Lagos State University, LASU, described the RSW programme as a laudable initiative, as she had really gained useful experience and that she was sure of being selected after she was interviewed by officials from Bezaleel Consultings.

Also, Precious Nkemehule, 21, a 400 level student at LASU, said she did interviews in two companies and was optimistic that she would scale through, while she commended the state government for initiating RSW.

However, next Saturday, a business pitch competition would be held at LASU, during which participants who are business-inclined would be attached to mentors and provided with start-up capital by the Lagos State Employment Trust fund.