Nigeria is ready to partner with Britain in tackling the problem of unemployment in the country through job creation.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, gave this indication when he received the Political Counsellor, British High Commission, Dominic Williams, in Abuja.
“We are ready to collaborate with our partners all over the world to open up avenues for job creation. We are open to all kinds of suggestions and levels of co-operation”, he said.
He disclosed that 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 him, part of the efforts of government to diversify the economy and boost job creation include empowering people to go back to the farm through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, as well as activating the mines and steel sector.
Keyamo noted that government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has been empowering many youths by training them on basic artisan skills to make them self-employed, as well as employers of labour.
He observed that empowering the youths with the acquisition of skills has also reduced the practice of importing such skills from other countries.
“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 thy can be self-employed and also employ some small workforce”, he said.
While speaking, the Political Counsellor, British High Commission, Dominic Williams, had sought ways the Britain could assist Nigeria in its efforts at job creation.
In another development, while meeting with members of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC), led by its Nigerian Representative, Dr Tunji Asaolu, the Minister of State disclosed the President’s passion about job creation and the Federal Government’s willingness to work with development partners in creating jobs for Nigerians.