‘We’ve Created 77,000 Jobs in Two Years’

By Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Edo State Governor, Mr. Gowin Obaseki, yesterday claimed that his administration in the last two years, has so far created 77, 200 jobs out of the 200,000 jobs he promised during his electioneering campaign.

Obaseki made the claim while addressing a Youth Summit with the theme: ‘Pathway to Prosperity’, as part of events marking his second years of office.

He said his administration believed in youth, hence it chose to commence Alagholaro Summit with them because the future of Nigeria was on their shoulders.

Describing Edo youths as ‘aspirational’ with the skills to conquer their environment as their forefathers did 500 years ago, the governor however lamented that their aspirations were hampered by the collapse of the educational system of the state hence he initiated reforms in the education system such that a child can learn how to read and write within two years.

Obaseki explained that Edo Jobs was set up to train youths to be self-reliant, adding that Benin Technical College had been refurbished with modern facilities and would be ready next year to train youths on skills acquisition.

The governor lamented the problem of human trafficking and illegal migration in state and disclosed that over 25,000 boys and girls from the state were in Libya waiting to cross over to Europe.

“We don’t like it, that’s why we want to create jobs here. There is nothing in Europe that you cannot achieve here,” he told the youths, stressing the state has locational advantage as gateway to all parts of the country and blessed with rich agricultural land.

“That is what prospered our forefathers, we do not need crude oil to be great,” he said and urged the youths to go into agriculture, even as he commended President Muhammadu for his agricultural revolution for the country.

Obaseki announced a grant of N100 million to support the state young entrepreneurs in 2019.

He also announced a grant of N500,000 each to support startups registered young businessmen and women while their individual counterparts got N300,000.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the launch by governor Obaseki of Edojobs Intership and Apprenticeship Scheme under which those on training would be paid stipends monthly.