The Federal Government has disclosed plans to partner with the British Government in order to create job opportunities and tackle the issue of unemployment in the country.
This was announced by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, when the Political Counsellor, British High Commission, Mr. Dominic Williams, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. Keyamo expressed the willingness of the Nigerian Government to collaborate with the British Government.
Keyamo stated that the government was ever ready to collaborate because it was keen on opening up avenues for job creation.
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Williams also stated that Britain would seek ways in which it could assist Nigeria in its efforts at job creation.
More details: Keyamo discussed the other plans and activities of the government in making sure that the unemployment that has eaten deep into the country will be solved. He said that the government had opened up other sectors as part of efforts to diversify the economy from oil, which would in turn create room for employment.
According to the minister, there have been efforts put in place by the government to diversify the economy and boost job creation which include empowering people to go back to the farm through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, as well as activating the mines and steel sector.
He further said that through the National Directorate of Employment, the government had been empowering many youths by training them on basic artisan skills to make them self-employed, as well as being employers of labour.
This has helped youths in acquiring skills and taking on the mantle of entrepreneurship.
“The problem of unemployment can only be solved, not through direct employment by the government, but by training people to acquire basic skills by which they can be self-employed and also employ some small workforce,” Keyamo said.
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Why this matters: The role of working youths in enhancing economic growth and development has, over time, been widely acknowledged globally. Economic wealth all over the world is created through enterprises and the expansion of their output. This is why this collaboration is important as it will help in job creation thereby create value and enhance the country’s gross domestic product.
