The Ogun State has suggested Stakeholders to work with the federal government to handle the scourge of rising unemployment.
The State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, gave the recommendation whereas declaring open an employment convention in Abeokuta.
The Conference geared toward addressing the priority over the alarming fee of unemployment and underemployment within the nation.
The maiden version of the convention was organised in collaboration with the Government of Germany by way of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and has the theme, “Addressing Unemployment and Job Creation in Ogun State: Tapping into Local and Global Opportunities.”
Governor Abiodun mentioned the theme was a wake-up name to stakeholders to contemplate the basis causes of unemployment, develop actionable steps, and make suggestions in addition to put up methods to cut back unemployment in Ogun State to the barest minimal, each within the brief and long-term foundation.
He mentioned that “there was an obvious nexus among economic development, illiteracy, unemployment, and insecurity. The present administration had launched many initiatives to stimulate the local economy and empower our teeming youths.”
The State’s helmsman mentioned that the I-S-E-Y-A mantra of his administration was hinged on ending poverty and distress within the State, with every letter standing for a selected space of motion geared in the direction of enduring improvement and creating employment alternatives.
He mentioned; “The establishment of the Ogun State Bureau of Job Creation and the subsequent launching of the Ogun Jobs portal is a laudable initiative which has been taking a lot of our people out of the rising unemployment, while at the same time targeting bettering the career chances of the employed and business owners.
“The establishment of the Ogun State Enterprise Development Agency, under the supervision of the State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to provide a clear-cut support services system for MSMEs to thrive in the State; an avenue for all MSME operators towards forming a common front and charting a good course for the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State.
“We have newly created Ogun Airport City with the potential to engage not fewer than 30,000 youths.”
The Chairman, of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the convention and Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu Aikulola, mentioned the report of an general jobless fee is at 33.3% and over 54% within the youth phase.
Dr Aikuola urged the casual youth teams, undergraduates, Youth Corps members, and starter entrepreneurs to grab the alternatives obtainable on the convention as an avenue to key into improvements to sort out the phenomenon of unemployment in Nigeria.
He mentioned that the intention of the convention could be defeated with out an related job honest, which is deliberate to be held within the first quarter of 2024 as a yardstick to measure its success.
“For the attendant components and to accord it the desired attention; staging a worthwhile fair, we have agreed with our partners to postpone the State Job fair, till the first quarter of next year; 2024, “ Dr Aikulola said.
In his remarks, Team Lead, GIZ, Dr. Detlef Barth said the conference was holding at a critical time given the need to take a deep dive into current realities of employment and job creation in Ogun State in the face of the evolving context of work which both presented challenges and opportunities in the context of employment promotion.”
The Governor was represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele on the occasion which had prime authorities functionaries in attendance, together with the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor and Special Adviser to the Governor on Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo.
Others had been; Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan and Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu amongst others.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
