Abuja - August 31 - (Mediaage NG News) – The Nigerian Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong on Wednesday, re-affirmed the the objective of President Bola Tinubu led government to take many youth off the streets, by providing employment opportunities.
He revealed this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigerian government and Taraba state government, in respect to the operationalization of the ministry’s skills and vocational centre in Ibi, Ibi local government area of the state.
“The problem is to take care of our youth, like the president has promised to take many off the streets”, Lalong said.
Reduction in the rate of unemployment in Nigeria was one of the campaign promises of the president, prior to becoming the country’s leader.
The Minister of state, Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Ihejiocha spoke of the imperativeness of skills acquisition, and advised graduands not to concentrate only on gaining a certificate in school.
“What you learn and what is in your brain, nobody can take away from you. Certificate may not work but, your skills can keep you going”, she said.
Mrs. Juliana Anty Adebambo, overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said the process of the MoU began when the Taraba state government approached the ministry for a partnership to take over the daily operations of activities of the Skills Upgrading and Vocational Training Centre (SUVTC) in the state.
The purpose she said is to start the process of actualising the key agenda of President Tinubu led government.
Hon James Philip, the state Commissioner For Poverty Alleviation, commended the federal government in its drive to reduce poverty and unemployment rate in the country, and expressed readiness of the state government to maximise the skills centre in Ibi.
“We have put in place proactive measures and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure the smooth running of the centre. Our target is to train at least five thousand youth and women in the next three years”, he said.
Lalong, a former governor of Plateau State, while urging the Taraba state government not to sit on this achievement, but, strive for more, encouraged other states to follow suit in providing employment opportunities for residents.