ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Tackling unemployment in Abia

18th December 2017
in Opinion
0
Abia North rerun: VC shuts up returning officer
6
SHARES
178
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

Unemployment constitutes a nagging socio-economic problem in Nigeria. Millions of youths roam the streets of the country unemployed on a daily basis. This problem has constituted a clog in the wheel of progress in the country. The crime rate is soaring to an unprecedented dimension and youth restiveness is ever on the increase.
Research reveals  that unemployment and poverty have direct link to security challenges in Nigeria, and expert opinions suggest “ the need for a radical reform in the areas of skill acquisition centres, agricultural development schemes for creation of employment opportunities and holistic restructuring of peace building mechanisms to curb these social ills and reposition the drifting nation to a more purposeful track.”
Also, Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) states that “the unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 14.2 percent in the last quarter of 2016 from 10.4 percent a year earlier. It is the highest jobless rate since 2009 as the number of unemployed went up by 3.5 million to 11.549 million while employment rose at a slower 680.8 thousand to 69.6 million. The labour force increased by 4.194 million to 81.151 million and those detached from it declined by 625.7 thousand to 27.439 million. The unemployment rate was higher for persons between 15-24 years old (25.2 percent), women (16.3 percent) and in rural areas (25.8 percent). In the previous quarter, the jobless rate was 13.9 percent.”
Governments at various levels are making frantic efforts to ensure that the menace of unemployment is addressed, thereby addressing other issues arising from unemployment. Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu understands the grave socio-economic implications of unemployment. According to him, “Our administration views job creation and skills development as necessary ingredients for our integrated economic development agenda as availability of relevant skill sets in our environment will naturally lead to more investment and further reduction in unemployment-related criminal activities”.
As part of its efforts to address this problem, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration inaugurated the Education for Employment Scheme on September 16, 2015. The EFE programme was not only conceived to create employment, but also to ensure that education leads to employment by imbuing the youths with the technical skills that would enable them become either self-employed or sought after by others. The programme is to boost the current efforts of the state to be elevated to a Small and Medium Scale Entreprises (SME) capital of the country where all kinds of equipment and devices will be imported to boost shoes and garments production.
The programme would be replicated in primary schools across the primary school pupils that are ready and prepared to go into technical education and eventually end up servicing the technical needs of Abia people.The programme is designed to be replicated in primary schools across the state.
Since the inauguration of the programme, it has been one success story to another. The latest is the ground breaking ceremony of the Dangote Education for Employment (EFE) job centre at Okpuala in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. The pilot project is to provide a digital one-stop shop for job seekers, including services such as free employment consultancy. The centre will also be funded  by the Dangote Group.
The recent stride is a huge boost to Gov. Ikpeazu’s resolve that his administration pledges to offer technical and vocational education training to 100, 000 youths in the state, and massive efforts have been mobilised towards achieving this.
For instance, from the outset of the programme, there has been profiling of unemployed youths in the state and creation of a database that identifies their employment needs. Also, the first batch of the programme has been trained to acquire relevant skills required by employers as well as the skills that will enable others to be self-employed. Futhermore, the job centre is expected to  acquire additional capacity to place them and others who wish to be gainfully engaged.
It will be recalled that the project recorded another history  on Thursday, August 3, 2017 when its  first batch  graduated in a grand ceremony in Umuahia. The scheme has also trained registered participants at the E-library Complex Umuahia.The participants were trained in various skills. On the other hand, the programme was expected to locate jobs for those wishing to go into paid employment as well as offer start-up materials for those wishing to stand alone as well as offer monthly stipends to the trainees.
Indeed, the EFE programme is a milestone in Gov. Ikpeazu’s administration. The scheme has assumed the status of a beautiful bride as it has attracted the attention of international donor agencies such as the World Bank. At the local level, even the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has indicated interest in funding graduates of the scheme who wish to set up shop on their own.
While we commend the Dangote Group for this  commitment  towards human capital development in Nigeria and Abia State in particular, we urge other corporate organizations, development partners and well-meaning  Abians to rally round Governor Okezie Ikpeazu by supporting the governor’s numerous laudable initiatives. There is also a strong appeal here for well-meaning individuals to key into this laudable project by sponsoring the remaining 16 job centres proposed to be replicated in the other local government areas in the state.

Ukegbu writes from Umuahia

Click Here>>>>>>7 Natural Herbs to Finally End Premature Ejaculation and Weak Erection<<<<<<

Click Here>>>>>>Anti-kidnap and anti-theft device for tracking and listening<<<<<<

sunnews

sunnews

Related Posts

Insecurity: Buhari’ll surely win the war – Gov Uzodimma
Features

Uzodinma: One year of hope, shared prosperity in Imo

13th January 2021
Amotekun: South West Assemblies pass bill into law
Features

Amotekun: Weaponising ethnicity to destroy good initiative

12th January 2021
Confusion as FG hikes electricity tariff by over 50 %
Opinion

Rage against another increase in electricity tariff

12th January 2021
Next Post
Dangote Industries earmarks $20bn for 10-year expansion programme

Dangote tackles BUA over mining lease

SERAP petitions UN over harassment of  #BringBackOurGirls group

SERAP to Buhari: Explain decision to spend $1bn on Boko Haram war

 I’ve no regrets predicting Jonathan’s fall –Mbaka

2019: Mbaka blows hot on link with Atiku

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Highlights

COVID-19 vaccine: Home grown remedy best response, says NIPRD 

Tinubu commiserates with Adebutu over wife’s demise

Kalu hails Lawan at 62

Lawan to govt, leaders: No more excuses

2021: Emefiele focuses on economic recovery

Uzodinma: One year of hope, shared prosperity in Imo

Trending

APGA: Dancing daintily into the twilight
National

Ex-Abia APGA senatorial candidate to join APC

13th January 2021
0

From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba There are indications Chief Chris Nkwonta, senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand...

Catholic priests accuse  govt of  complacency in Tiv/Jukun clashes

Stop mortgaging future of younger generation through borrowings, Bishop Onuoha advises FG

13th January 2021
Fire razes Ariaria Aba Market

Fire outbreak: Furniture dealers lose N3bn, seek FG assistance

13th January 2021
Another US firm announces COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccine: Home grown remedy best response, says NIPRD 

13th January 2021
End protest now, Tinubu tells youths

Tinubu commiserates with Adebutu over wife’s demise

13th January 2021
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on social media:

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist