The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to fight unemployment through employment generation, entrepreneurship development, mentoring and all other ventures that seek to promote self-reliance and development.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, made the call on behalf of the Federal Government during the 2016 edition of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s mentoring programme recently.

The minister, who was represented by the state coordinator of the ministry, Mr. Wale Shado, lauded the LCCI for its mentorship programme adding that the initiative was timely when viewed against the backdrop of the present administration’s agenda on employment generation and youth empowerment for sustainable development.

He said, “I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to support the laudable initiative of the LCCI in particular and the government at all levels in general in the fight against unemployment in all its ramifications through employment generation, entrepreneurship development and mentoring and all other ventures that seek to promote self-reliance and development.

“It is of interest to note that efforts are in place by the current administration to provide experiences and opportunities for youths and adults to bring forth the best within them, to constantly develop and enhance their abilities, to take responsibilities and to make positive contributions to their communities.”
On her part, the LCCI president, Dr. Nike Akande, remarked that the programme was a way to harness the huge human capital potential which Nigeria’s youthful population offered.
She said, “Quality human capital can be a major driver of sustainable economic transformation. It is people that make things happen in any system.
“Our mentoring programme complements our mission as a chamber which is to ’promote and protect the interests of its members and the business community at large through public policy advocacy, creation and facilitation of investment opportunities, provision of business development services and observance of the highest standards of business ethics.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of the Business Education Services and Training unit, Mr. Suboma Ajumogobia, disclosed that the chamber secured a partnership with Accenture in 2015 that had enabled the programme to double its intake in 2016 and possibly double it each succeeding year.

[Punch]