NEWS
FG ready to tackle
youth unemployment in Nigeria - Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said the
federal government of Nigeria was determined to tackle the problem of youth
unemployment in the country.
The president, who was represented at the
13th convocation ceremony of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State,
said his government would achieve this through steady funding of education,
which he identified as the bedrock of the socio-economic development of
society.
Buhari, who is the institution’s visitor, was
represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, at
the event during the conferment of award of postgraduate and honourary degrees
to beneficiaries.
The President said the federal government
would remain undaunted in tackling youth unemployment, assuring that he would
give maximum attention to education.
He said, “Let me at this point restate the
conviction of the federal government that education is the bedrock of the
socio-economic development of society. Consequently, within the limits of
available resources this government will continue to give a primary of place to
education.
“The federal government will remain undaunted
in tackling the challenge of youth unemployment and underemployment through a
matrix of initiatives: N-power, the Bank of Industry ‘s Youth Entrepreneurship
Support (YES) Programmes and the Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Africa
Support Schemes. Please explore such opportunities.
“As part of its continuing efforts to stave
off the menace of youth employment, government has put in place a number of
initiatives to boost the employability of graduands of our tertiary
institutions, either as employees or in self-employment.
“These initiatives include, but not limited
to, the Energizing Education Programme, through the Rural Electricity Agency,
the intent of which is, inter alia, to provide captive power plants for
selected tertiary institutions, thus providing them with much needed
uninterrupted power supply; and the Skill G project by TETFund which provides
computers, laboratory equipment and other learning resources to tertiary
institutions.
“I congratulate Nnamdi Azikiwe University for
being a beneficiary of these two landmark projects, which it attracted through
its commendable track record in infrastructural development.”
In his address, the Chancellor of the
University and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba charged the graduands to
make the difference for good in any endeavours and communities they found
themselves in haven been equipped with knowledge, skills and values.
Commending Vice Chancellor Prof. Joseph
Ahaneku, whose five-year tenure would end next month, the Chancellor said,
“Your administration has moved the university tremendously forward in all
facets of the university: academic, infrastructural and administration.”
The Vice Chancllor, Prof. Ahaneku who reeled
out his achievement which elicited applause from the people thanked the federal
government for the opportunity given him to serve.
Three distinguished
Nigerians; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Sir Emeka Offor of Chrome
Group of companies and Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, presidential running mate
to Chief MKO Abiola in the 1991 election were conferred with honourary
doctorate degrees.
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