The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Rural Development, Dr. Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to positioning technology at the core of rural economic transformation, in a bold and strategic move to enhance digital literacy in rural Lagos.
Dr. Agbaje made this known during a two-session digital capacity-building program held on Thursday, July 17th, 2025, at the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD) Office Complex in Igbodu, Epe, where over 100 youths were trained on branding, digital marketing, and the effective use of social media for business growth.
The initiative, organized by CERUD under the supervision of the Lagos State Office of Rural Development, attracted participants not only from Epe but also from Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Badagry, and other parts of the state, signifying the government’s inclusivity in spreading digital education beyond urban centres.
“By bringing this type of training to Igbodu and similar rural areas, we are equipping our youth with the skills to improve their livelihoods and make their voices heard in the global marketplace,” said Dr. Agbaje, while addressing the participants.
“Many of these young people have already been empowered through various entrepreneurship programs by the Lagos State Government.”
“This digital training complements those efforts by enabling them to advertise, brand, and position their businesses for online visibility and broader customer reach,” he added.
According to Dr. Agbaje, the Sanwo-Olu-led government recognizes that the future of commerce is digital and that failure to prepare rural communities for that future would widen the socioeconomic gap between Lagos’s urban and rural regions.
The training focused on several modules, including:
Principles of Branding; Understanding Social Media Algorithms; Content Creation for Business; Leveraging Digital Tools for Customer Engagement; Search Engine Optimization (SEO); and Building an Online Business Identity.
Participants engaged in hands-on exercises and breakout sessions facilitated by digital marketing professionals and media strategists, who tailored the curriculum to reflect the business realities of rural-based entrepreneurs.
In his remarks, Mr. Musibau Muyiwa Balogun, Director of CERUD, emphasised that the training is not just about exposure to digital tools but about a fundamental mindset shift.
“We want our youth to stop seeing digital platforms as merely for entertainment. With the right knowledge, a simple smartphone can become a powerful business tool. This program is about creating that awareness and guiding them through it,” Mr. Balogun noted.
He further stated that CERUD will continue to organise similar training across the five divisions of Lagos State as part of its mandate to ensure rural dwellers are not left behind in the ongoing digital revolution.
Certificates of participation were presented to all 100 participants at the end of the program, which also qualifies them for additional government support, including grants, business expansion opportunities, and further training.
Participants expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government for the opportunity, describing it as a life-changing experience. One of the trainees, Miss Adeola Ogunmola, a bead designer from Epe, said,
“I now know how to create business pages on Instagram and Facebook, and how to run ads to attract more customers. Before this, I was only selling within my neighbourhood.”
Another participant, Master Timilehin Olayiwola from Epe, noted,
“This training has opened my eyes to the power of branding. I used to think my product was enough, but now I know how to package it better for the market.”
The program underscores the Lagos State Government’s mission to foster digital inclusion, reduce youth unemployment, and promote technological advancement in all parts of the state — urban and rural alike.
As Lagos continues to champion the cause of inclusive governance and development, initiatives like this reflect the administration’s long-term vision of creating a digitally competent, economically self-reliant rural population ready for global engagement.
INN-HOUSE☆ 