FG moves to reduce graduates’ unemployment in Nigeria

WORRIED by the army of unemployed graduates in the country, the Federal Government has said that it had put in place strategies at various levels aimed at addressing same.

Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolemenmen, who stated this in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, explained that the strategies were not just providing the enabling environment for the jobs to be created, but massive investments in infrastructure which will serve as catalyst for growth to mitigate the harsh conditions that unemployed youths go through.

The minister who was at the graduate internship opportunities fair, organised SURE-P called on the private sector to support the Federal Government in its noble objective of the scheme by taking and mentoring them as same was vital for the development of necessary skills for improved manpower and the development of capacity that will form the bedrock for the attainment of country’s vision 20:2020.

He said that the graduate internship opportunity fair was another effort of the Federal Government to address the plight of the millions of young people that are yet to secure jobs.

For the unemployed graduates who were the main beneficiaries of the scheme, the minister urged them to display the skills once they are selected and do well during the internship to disprove the negative impression about Nigerian graduates and prove that they are indeed employable.

He said: “This government understands that the youths of this country constitute the force necessary to drive the transformation agenda and take Nigeria to its pride of place in the committee of nations.

“The government is therefore, committed to ensuring that several platforms are created for the Nigerian youth to be gainfully employed.”