Fighting Unemployment Key to Ending Insecurity, Says Gov Okowa

• Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has stated that fighting unemployment is important in ending insecurity in Nigeria
• The governor said his administration realised this early and commenced job creation and entrepreneurship programmes for Delta youths
• He said that no fewer than 100,000 youths had benefited directly and indirectly from the programmes in the past six years

Asaba - Delta governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, November 16 urged government at all levels to work hard to reduce unemployment and check rising insecurity in Nigeria.

Okowa made the call when he received participants of Course 44 of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, at Government House, Asaba.

He said that the theme of this year's study, "Enhancing National Security Through Socio-economic Development’’ was very apt considering the harm done to the economy by insecurity and poverty across the country.

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According to the governor, several factors account for insecurity, adding that:

“Realising this, every government and sub-national government, including the local governments, must try to work hard to pull people out of unemployment and poverty.

“Unfortunately as a nation, we have a population that is growing too much, growing much more than the economy of the nation.

“At the moment, we are very worried about the unemployment rate in the country. It is much higher even among the youth.

“We must ensure that we begin to design policies and programmes that would continually engage our youths.’’

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Air Commodore Chidiebere Obiabaka, had told the governor that they were in Delta on a study tour of the state, adding that the knowledge gained would enhance their research work.

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He lauded Okowa for his outstanding accomplishments in the development of the state in the past six years.

Delta Entrepreneurship Programmes Vehicle for Poverty Mitigation, Says Okowa

Governor Okowa had earlier said that the entrepreneurship development initiative of his administration in vocational skills was a deliberate effort to mitigate poverty, stamp out youth restiveness and meaningfully engage the unemployed youths in the state in productive ventures.

Okowa made this known on Thursday, September 30 while inaugurating the second cycle of the Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (GEST) programme at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Issele-Uku, Aniocha North local government area of the state.

He said that his administration had always believed that the solution to the current unemployment quagmire in the state was through entrepreneurship development, which would also help in curbing youth restiveness.

Delta State to Partner Manufacturers on Entrepreneurship Development

Delta state government on Wednesday, September 15 expressed readiness to partner with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in developing youths in the state with skills and entrepreneurship development.

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Governor Okowa stated his government’s intention when he received on a courtesy visit, the executive members of Edo/Delta chapter of the association at Government House, Asaba.

He commended the group for its contributions to the economic development of the state and assured them that his administration would partner MAN to train youths in the state on relevant skills.

Source: Legit.ng