The Lagos government has called for more youth involvement in bricklaying, noting that many bricklayers are in their 60s.

The commissioner for youth and social development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, made the call at a two-day event to mark the 2025 Bricklayers Week in Lagos.

The event which ended on Wednesday was organised by the Lagos State Bricklayers Association.

Mr Ogunlende said the older bricklayers had “laid the foundation”, and urged young people to build on their legacy.

He expressed satisfaction with the increasing participation of women in the trade, and gave the assurance that the state government, through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and other initiatives, would continue to support youth development.

The president of the association, Oyebamiji Dauda, thanked the Dangote Group for its continuous support and appealed for more assistance.

“The requests include a branded vehicle for the association, branding of all association offices in local government areas with Dangote Cement logo, and employment opportunities for members’ children.

“We also appeal for recognition of our members as Dangote Cement ambassadors, empowerment programmes for the youth, and opportunities for qualified members to become Dangote cement distributors,” he said.

The Lagos regional director of Dangote Cement, Tunde Mabogunje, said the company regarded bricklayers as “partners in progress”.

He said the Dangote Falcon cement brand was gaining wide acceptance, and pledged further support from the Dangote Group, especially for female bricklayers.

Sandra Okolo, a female bricklayer and mathematics graduate from the University of Lagos, said she left a real estate job to learn bricklaying because she wanted to understand the work better.

According to her, the trade is expanding among women in Lagos, Rivers and Ogun.

She hoped that more women across Nigeria would go into bricklaying. Ms Okolo said that bricklaying required strength and skill, adding that training, discipline, dignity and integrity would help women to succeed in the field.

(NAN)