Ministry Targeting Skill Acquisition for Unemployed Youths, Says Abubakar

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ismaila Abubakar, has said the ministry is pursuing an initiative to empower many unemployed youths and school leavers with lucrative skills that will enable them earn a living.

He also said the ministry is looking beyond conciliation of industrial crisis to playing a bigger role in enhancing the growth of the economy.

Abubakar revealed this when he met with the leadership of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He said the ministry was seeking to make greater impact in the lives of Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration by making sure that employment opportunities are created for the unemployed Nigerians.

The permanent secretary said that the recently lunched programme: ‘Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP)’, was one of the innovative ideas initiated by the Minister Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, targeting to develop various employability skills for young graduates, school leavers, artisans among others.

He, however, said that poor budgetary allocation is a major constraint that would impede the ministry’s efforts if the trend is not reserved.

For instance, he said: “At the moment, the ministry’s skill acquisition centres across the country are all dilapidated and in need of major facelift.

“These centres are the hub for training young and old Nigerians on agro allied value chain development, information communication technology, crafts, entrepreneurship and other critical skills that will advance their fortunes in life. “With the sort of allocations received by the ministry, it is difficult and almost impossible to revive these centres.”

He urged the media to beam light on the challenges facing the ministry.

According to him, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, is relentlessly pushing for an enhanced budgetary allocation to the ministry.

Earlier in his remark, Mr. Abulu Patrick, who led other members of LACAN on courtesy visit, said that journalists are ready to put in their best for the country ‘s interest and promotion of socio-economic development of Nigeria.