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Tag: Job Creation

  • Nigeria, World Bank set job creation agenda

    Nigeria, World Bank set job creation agenda

    The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, says Nigeria is working with the World Bank to develop a job-creation agenda.

    Edun made this known during an interview with journalists after the World Bank Development Committee plenary held on Friday in Washington D.C.

    He said the meeting focused on creating jobs and ensuring that young people in Nigeria have a secure and promising future.

    According to him, the aim is to set a direction for the World Bank and its Governors to agree on a forward-looking development agenda.

    Edun explained that the role of multilateral development institutions is central to driving global development, particularly through collaboration with country governors.

    He emphasised the importance of the World Bank’s focus on job creation as a way of securing the future for young people globally.

    He added that Africa, with a projected 25 per cent of the world’s youth by 2050, was a key focus of the discussion.

    The minister noted that a stable macroeconomic environment and financial security are essential to support job creation in Nigeria.

    He stressed the need to attract private sector investment to generate quality, domestic jobs rather than relying on outsourced roles.

    Edun said the committee’s priorities align with President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, which aims to stabilise the economy and attract both local and foreign investors.

    He stated the plan includes raising productivity, growing the economy and especially creating employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youth.

    According to Edun, another goal is to prevent young people from leaving their countries in search of better-paying jobs abroad.

    “The objective is to create jobs locally, empower youth, and support this through essential infrastructure.

    “For young people, that includes digital infrastructure — access to data, internet, and fibre optic networks — to enable them to work remotely,” he added.

  • Netherlands, EU set to empower, create jobs for Nigerian youths

    Netherlands, EU set to empower, create jobs for Nigerian youths

    The Netherlands in collaboration with the European Union (EU) have expressed their desire to support Nigeria “to create jobs for its teeming youthful population as a means to eradicating poverty, unemployment and irregular migration.”

    This was made known by Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betty Edu, during a meeting at The Hague, Netherlands over the weekend.

    According to her, the two parties will ensure that more youths are trained in skilled jobs and empowerment.

    A statement on Sunday said Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betty Edu, secured these commitments during a meeting at The Hague, Netherlands.

    According to the statement, the meeting had in attendance the European Union Commission’s Director General for International Development, Erica Gerrestsen; the Minister for Justice and the Minister of Security of  Netherlands; Netherlands Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paul Huijts; Netherlands Special Envoy for Migration, Peter Schuurman; and Head of Section, Sahel, West Africa and Great Lakes, Tijmen Rooseboom, among others.

    On the Nigerian government delegation was the Ambassador of Nigeria to the Netherlands, Dr Eniola Ajayi; the Federal High Commissioner on Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijani Ahmed; the representative of the Minister of Interior; among others.

  • New Era:Tinubu’s Economic Goals Towards Achieving Prosperity

    New Era:Tinubu’s Economic Goals Towards Achieving Prosperity

    Nigeria’s newly inaugurated President Bola Tinubu, has outlined his plans to revitalize the country’s economy, with a focus on achieving higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and reducing unemployment rates.

    In a bold move aimed at addressing the pressing economic challenges facing the nation, Tinubu’s inaugural speech on Monday detailed the steps his administration intends to take to accomplish these targets.
    One of the key measures Tinubu plans to implement is budgetary reform aimed at stimulating economic growth without triggering inflation.

    “Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.

    “Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians. The policy shall be reviewed,” President Tinubu said.

    By carefully managing fiscal policies, the government aims to create an enabling environment that encourages investment and drives economic expansion.

    In order to reduce the country’s dependency on imports and promote domestic manufacturing, Tinubu said his administration will adopt a comprehensive industrial policy.

    This policy will leverage a range of fiscal measures to incentivize local production and support businesses, thereby creating jobs and boosting economic self-sufficiency.

    “I have a message for our investors, local and foreign: our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions,” Tinubu said.

    Also addressing a critical issue that has hampered business growth in Nigeria, Tinubu emphasized the need to improve access to affordable electricity.

    His administration aims to significantly increase power generation, improve transmission and distribution networks, and promote the development of local energy sources.

    By ensuring businesses and households have reliable and affordable electricity, the government seeks to unlock new opportunities for economic growth.

    Tinubu further expressed his commitment to  attracting more investment, by proactively instilling confidence in investors, encouraging the repatriation of dividends and profits, and fostering a favorable business environment.

    Recognising the urgent need to create employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youth, Tinubu reiterated his campaign commitment to generate one million new jobs in the digital economy.

    In collaboration with the National Assembly, the administration plans to draft an omnibus Jobs and Prosperity bill that will provide the necessary policy framework to drive labor-intensive infrastructure projects, promote light industry, and improve social services for vulnerable segments of society, including the poor and elderly.

    He said: “My administration must create meaningful opportunities for our youth. We shall honour our campaign commitment of one million new jobs in the digital economy.”

    With his comprehensive agenda and focus on sustainable growth, job creation, and investor-friendly policies, Tinubu aims to steer Nigeria towards economic prosperity and ensure a brighter future for Nigerians.

    However, the implementation of these measures will require close collaboration between the executive branch, the legislature, and other stakeholders.

    As the administration gets to work, all eyes will be on President Tinubu as he navigates the economic challenges that lie ahead to deliver tangible outcomes that will propel the nation’s economy forward and uplift the lives of its people.

  • CBN committed to stability in financial system, job creation- Emefiele

    CBN committed to stability in financial system, job creation- Emefiele

    The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, says the apex bank is committed to ensuring financial system stability and improving access to credit.

    Emefiele spoke in a recorded address to the 2022 edition of the apex bank’s Development Finance Department (DFD) Retreat in Abuja on Monday.

    Nigerian standard reports that the theme of the retreat was “Financing for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.

    The CBN governor said that the CBN had introduced several policies to improve access to credit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) over the last few years, deepen support to the real sector and build a robust system infrastructure.

    According to him, the CBN has taken steps to intervene in the Nigerian economy beyond the traditional macroeconomic mandate of ensuring financial system stability and maintaining strong reserves.

    “It is clear in my mind that posterity will judge us for all actions taken to bridge the gaps through our interventions

    “Those interventions are hinged at supporting economic activities, speeding up diversification of the production base and enabling infrastructural development in Nigeria,” he said.

    He commended the staff of the DFD for their commitment and patriotism.

    “Also speaking, the Governor of Jigawa, Muhammed Badaru, said that the sub-national governments had every reason to be thankful to the CBN and the DFD for efforts their support.

    “We from the states have seen practical efforts by the DFD. Many states have testimonies of how the DFD has supported the states.

    “In Jigawa, with the suppprt of the CBN, we have been able to move rice production from 92, 000 metric tonnes per annum in 2015 to 1,050,000 metric tonnes per annum in 2021.

    “We were able to move rice processing factories from one to seven, and thousands of rice mills.

    “And, together with other policies, we were able to move our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from one trillion Naira in 2015 to N2.25trillion in 2021,” he said.

    Also speaking, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, said that for a growing nation, development finance was one of the most important functions of the central bank.

    According to him, this has been demonstrated in the last seven years by the CBN.

    “The development finance function is essentially a national security function, because it deals with the failures of externalities and all other challenges brought to bear by dislocations in the international community ” he said.

    Mr Yila Yusuf, Director, DFD, said that the department had been at the forefront of food security for Nigeria in recent times, through a plethora of programmes and initiatives led by Emefiele.

    Yusuf said that the country offered good opportunities for growth.

    He added that the task of enabling food security, stimulating finance to the real sector and catalysing towards inclusive economic growth required serious efforts.

    “The CBN has been at the forefront to ensure that we achieve food security and stimulate growth, in collaboration with other fiscal authorities.

    “The DFD has also been fighting to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on food import and reduce the draining of our foreign exchange.

    “The department has taken steps to stem imported inflation stimulate local production and diversify the economy away from oil to the real sector,” he said.

  • It’s not government’s responsibility to provide jobs – Fayemi

    It’s not government’s responsibility to provide jobs – Fayemi

    The Ekiti State Governor and presidential aspirant Dr Kayode Fayemi has explained that government should not be saddled with sole responsibility to provide jobs.

    Dr Kayode Fayemi who’s the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, mentioned this statement on Wednesday in Abuja

    He noted that the government can only create the enabling environment for job creation to thrive.

    Fayemi who spoke during a Question and Answer session shortly after his official declaration to contest for the presidential ticket of the governing party, All Progressives Congress, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Wednesday.

    The session was moderated by ace broadcaster and former NTA Newscaster Cyril Stober.

    He said, “It is not the job of the government to address unemployment, it is our job to create the enabling environment to allow employment to happen.

    “We will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and then these businesses will create jobs in the process.”

    Dr Kayode Fayemi, also said that he does not have a challenge with the mode of primaries APC adopts in its forthcoming presidential primary election which will be held from May 30 to June 1, 2022.

  • FG is addressing job creation for youths – Lai Mohammed

    FG is addressing job creation for youths – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday in Lagos said that the Federal Government will continue to address the issue of job creation for the youth.

    Mohammed said this while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the meeting of governors, ministers and traditional rulers of South-West states following the EndSARS protest mayhem.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day meeting was also attended by a Presidential delegation, led by the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

    He said that the government would continue to engage the youths and address the issue of poverty alleviation.

    “It is not as if the government has not been addressing the issue of unemployment. The newly launched funds by the government was actually aimed at creating job opportunities.

    “What the government has done so far is to provide platforms where businesses can thrive,´´ the minister said.

    Mohammed said that the purpose of the South-West meeting was to allow governors and other political leaders in the South-West to interact.

    He also said that the federal government delegation used the moment to commiserate with the Lagos State Government following the attack it suffered recently in the EndSARS protest mayhem.

    “It was a peaceful meeting and it was agreed that the state and the federal government response to the initial demand of the EndSARS protest was appropriate,´´ the minister said.

    He said that the government would continue to invest in the development of human capacity, with more implementation of economic policies that will engender development and building of more public infrastructure that would empower the teeming youths.

    Earlier at the meeting, the South-West traditional rulers blamed politicians for the EndSARS protest mayhem witnessed in the region in the last few weeks.

    The monarchs expressed disappointment at the manner politicians had turned politics into money induced venture at the expense of the interest of the youth.

    They opined that high rate of unemployment among youths caused the agitation in the EndSARS protest.

    “The governors have taken the right steps with this meeting. However, they have been far away from we monarchs. You should not wait till election days before you reach out to us. This type of meeting should come regularly.

    “We know the good and the bad in our communities but we are under-utilised,´´ Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, said.

    In his reaction, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, said the destruction had put the region in a complex situation.

    “It is a complex and complicated matter. Our children are jobless and many are hungry. The problems are too much for the states.

    “The states are not independent. The structure we run in Nigeria cannot allow state governors to do much for their states,´´ he said.

    The Oluigbo of Ugbo, Oba Akinruntan Obateru, urged the Inspector General of Police to conduct detailed investigation into the incident and fish out those behind the protest.

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu said that “truth is very bitter,´´ noting that majority of the problems were caused by politicians.

    “The power with the federal government is too much. The security architecture of the country needs to be restructured.

    “The problem we have in Lagos is security and unemployment. The youths have to be looked after. What happened is pure case of security breach. The entire system needs reformation,´´ Akiolu said. (

  • Senate urges states to partner NBTI for job creation

    Senate urges states to partner NBTI for job creation

    The Senate Committee on Science and Technology has urged state governments to partner with the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) to create job opportunities for teeming youth in the country.

    The committee made the call when the members led by its chairman, Mrs Uche Ekwunife paid a courtesy visit to Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Wednesday.

    The Federal Government had set up the Technology Incubation Programme (TIP) in the 36 states to nurture and grow new and small businesses, products, innovations and entrepreneurs by supporting them through the early stages of development.

    Ekwunife stressed the need for enhanced partnership among states, local governments and the agency in nurturing and growing technology-based enterprises for entrepreneurs to develop their businesses.

    The senate committee said they were in Enugu for an oversight function in all the NBTI centres in the South East geopolitical zone.

    The chairman said the visit to NBTI was aimed at promoting, facilitating and actualising the set objectives of the agency.

    She urged the governor to continue his administration’s support to the NBTI Centre in Enugu State to serve as a veritable platform for the government to create more employment for youths and women.

    According to her, it will get our restive youths to be sufficiently self-reliant in creating wealth.

    The committee however, commended Ugwuanyi’s giant stride in infrastructural development amidst Enugu State’s lean resources.

    Ekwunife added that the National Assembly was impressed with the way the governor had been able to provide the needed qualitative leadership in terms of peace and good governance.

    Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi applauded the committee’s initiative and interest in the Technology Incubation Programme, with regard to its potentials for accelerating Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development.

    He reassured the lawmakers that his administration would partner the Technology Incubation Centre in the state.

    “I urge you to lead the high-level advocacy and inspire the necessary legislative actions for optimizing the benefits of the Technology Incubation Programme for employment and wealth creation for Nigerians,” Ugwuanyi said.

    Other members of the committee present were Sen. Obinna Ogba, representing Ebonyi Central and Sen. Istifanus Gyang, representing Plateau North Senatorial District.

    The committee also included Sen. Alkali Saidu Ahmed, representing Gombe North Senatorial District; and the IBTI Director General, Dr Mohammed Jibrin.

  • NITDA establishes 8 world class IT hubs for job creation

    NITDA establishes 8 world class IT hubs for job creation

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Thursday said plans to establish additional eight Information Technology (IT) hubs to reduce unemployment in the country was on completion stage.

    Dr Isa Pantami, the Director- General of the agency said this at a news conference on the forthcoming e-Nigeria conference and the achievements of the agency in the past two years in Abuja.

    “NITDA is the process of establishing eight world class IT hubs in Nigeria in the six geo-political zones in the country with one each situated in Lagos and Abuja.

    “The IT hubs are to ensure that digital jobs are created.

    “We also provide seed funds for start-ups and support them by taking them to world class innovation exhibitions,” he said.

    Pantami said that the IT hubs establishment started in 2006, adding that hubs in Lagos, Calabar, Katsina, Oyo, Gombe states were already operational, while other states were still in progress.

    According to him, the agency will establish IT hubs in every state of the country and is upgrading already existing ones to meet with the trends in ICT.

    The D-G said hat through the IT clearance policy of the agency, the Federal Government had saved N13 billion over two years and had ensured the alignment of IT projects in MDAs.

    Pantami said that the agency’s digital inclusion programme had created 86 digital capacity building centres, 80 digital job creation centres, eight virtual libraries with e- learning facilities in some tertiary institutions of the country.

    He said that the agency over the past two years had focused on seven pillars, which were IT regulation, cyber security, digital capacity building, government digital services, local content development, digital job creations and digital inclusion.

    According to him, creating digital jobs which is leveraging on Information Communication Technology (ICT) is part of the economic diversification strategy of the Federal Government.

    On ensuring cyber security, Pantami said the agency was piloting awareness programmes in the country to sensitise citizens on the dynamics and dangers of cyber attacks.

    He said that the novel achievement of the agency was bringing sanity in the awarding of IT projects among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

    “In the past, MDAs used to carry out projects in silos, while some see IT projects as a means of siphoning money.

    “Over the past two years, we have made sure that MDAs don’t repeat projects in their budgets because we are placing value on monies spent on IT projects, ” he said.

    According to him, NITDA has received 79 prestigious awards for being the best IT regulator both locally and internationally.

    He commended the media for supporting the agency over the years and called on them to investigate MDAs for not complying with IT projects regulation and clearance mandate of the agency, adding that it would save money for the government.

    The e-Nigeria conference and exhibition, which is the 11th edition, is expected to hold from Nov. 5 to 7 in Abuja and it is the platform to showcase the country’s innovation in the IT sector.

    The event, which will be declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari is has as its theme: “Promoting a Digital Economy in an Era of Emerging Technologies through Effective Regulations’’.

    The maiden edition of eNigeria was held in 2007, it attracted over 25,000 participants, including local, international leaders of thought from business, government and academic communities.

    eNigeria is the nation’s annual IT flagship conference and exhibition forum which serves as a melting pot for the best brains and ideas in public, private and Non-Governmental organisations.

     

  • Job Creation: Obaseki assures Edo youths of preference in new economic order

    Job Creation: Obaseki assures Edo youths of preference in new economic order

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured qualified youths in the state of preferential treatment in the new economic order taking shape in the state.

    TheNewsGuru reports Obaseki gave the assurance during the courtesy visit by the Association of Esan Professionals (AEP), at Government House, in Benin City.

    He said that youths sponsored by AEP for training on welding and fabrication would be linked to firms where their skills would be put to effective use.

    “I want to assure you that we will support you and give priority to the youth whose training on welding and fabrication you sponsored, particularly on the projects we are working on.

    “I believe that the modular refinery where work has already started will require fabrication work. We will be introducing them to our partners in that transaction,” the governor told his guests.

    He commended members of the association for sponsoring youths for the training, noting, “I thank you for your selflessness and interest in our people. You have been able to raise money from your own resources to train youth on welding and fabrication and it is most commendable.”

    “Thank you for the effort you are making. I want to inform you that we will obtain their data for our job portal, EdoJobs, and see how we can match them with jobs in the state,” he added.

    Earlier, President of the association, Mr. Sam Obaze, explained that the group’s decision to sponsor 10 youths from Esanland at the Petroleum Technology Institute (PTI) in Warri, was to complement governor Obaseki’s initiative to engage youths in productive activity.

    Obaze said, “I wish to reiterate that your desire to engage Edo youths productively received a boost when 10 Esan youths, sponsored by our association, were decorated with PTI’s Skills Acquisition Proficiency Certificates in welding and fabrication, after nine months of training.”

    He commended the governor for reinstating the Onojie of Uromi, noting, “the people of Esanland thank you most sincerely for this gesture and wish to assure you of our continuous and sustained support.”

     

  • Delta state govt to legislate on job creation programmes

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said his government is collaborating with the State House of Assembly to institutionalize the job and wealth creation scheme of his administration.

    Governor Okowa made the disclosure at the induction ceremony for the 2017/2018 beneficiaries of the state government’s job creation programme, the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in Asaba.

    The inductees numbering 745 beneficiaries included 209 Brown STEP, 347 Green STEP, 159 YAGEP and 30 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the third cycle of the programme.

    “Plans are on to present a bill before the State House of Assembly for the establishment of a Job and Wealth Creation Empowerment Law. I hope that the programme continues in government even when I have left office. If we continue with it as a state, after 10 years the multiplier effect will be felt,” Okowa said.

    He advised the beneficiaries to network among themselves with the view of building a web of young entrepreneurs to drive the economy of the state.

    He called on the private sector and financial institutions to partner with the state government and the beneficiaries for the growth of the enterprises, stressing “We have done three cycles and we should be able to partner with the private sector and financial institutions. The partnership with World Bank through SEEFOR with the state government came to be because of trust. I am grateful to the beneficiaries of the first and second cycles for making us proud. I hope that the third will do better”.

    While disclosing that the state government would soon embark on the 4th Programme Cycle of the STEP/YAGEP Programmes, he charged them to be disciplined, honest, innovative, resourceful and hardworking, committed and determined in order to succeed in their various enterprises.

    He also enjoined them to be role models for youths in their communities and to remain good ambassadors of the programme by training other youths to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

    According to him, “As a government, I urge you to stay in the realization that you stand out among youths as many will look up to you, you are a role model to other youths in the society, you have to put in a lot of commitment through hard work and honesty, stay patriotic to yourself and Delta State and you will succeed. Challenges will come but if you stay committed, you will be successful.”

    “I congratulate you on the successful completion of your training programme, you are privileged to be ambassadors of this programme, once you step out, the world looks out for what you will become, and do with yourself; you should be an embodiment of the programme in character and deed”, he added.

    The Governor prayed for their success and officially inducted them into the programme stating: “I am a role model of youths in the state. I will try to make a positive impact on Delta State, God helping me.”

    On his part, the Chairman, Job Creation Steering Committee and the Hon. Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr Kingsley Emu, represented by the Hon Commissioner for Youths Development, Hon. Oghenekaro Ilolo, said that the job creation scheme was hinged on sustainability and development through monitoring and mentoring.

    Earlier in his address of welcome, The Chief Job Creation Officer, Prof. Eric Eboh, explained that the third programme cycle of 2017/2018 had 745 beneficiaries including 30 PwDs, pointing out that their training and starter packs were funded by the World Bank/European Union assisted State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) projects.

    Prof Eboh recalled that among the 30 PwDs were five sisters from Ibusa who were enrolled into the programme at the instance of Governor Okowa when he encountered them at the Town Hall Meeting at Akwukwu-Igbo last year.

    The ceremony featured cultural dance and choir ministrations by the beneficiaries.

    Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and other top government functionaries.