Anambra State Deputy Governor @ the ILO, calls for close collaboration to fight unemployment
Dr. Nkem Okeke called for a close partnership with the ILO to stem the tide of unemployment in Anambra State, Nigeria.
25 July 2014
ILO News (Abuja): The Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, called for a close collaboration with ILO to stem the tide of unemployment in Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole. The Deputy Governor made the call during a courtesy visit to the ILO Country Office in Abuja on 25 July 2014.
Dr. Okeke, stated that although the government of His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano was relatively new in office, the government was committed to consolidating the gains and achievements of the predecessor as well as making Anambra State one of the best in four areas where Anambra State. Accordingly, the government has set a four-point agenda to maximize the potentials of Anambra State and create jobs for the teeming youth and women of Anambra State; these include Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Industrialization and Oil and Gas, all of which are expected.
The industrial development policy of the state was already attracting more investors from different parts of the world including South Africa. Recognizing that power was a major hindrance to expansion, the government resolved to invest in the power sector with the aim of generating 440 megawatts of electricity to be linked to the national grid. The government was also discussing with some private investors who would generate 1500 megawatts of electricity. The Government is investing in the social amenities like health, potable water supply, and education among others. He therefore called on the ILO for support in addressing youth unemployment.
In her contribution the ILO Country Director, Mrs. Chuma-Mkandawire, acknowledged that the Anambra State Government has been a very good friend of the United Nations System in Nigeria which culminated in the donation of its House in Abuja for the use of the United Nations following a bomb blast in 2011. She stated that, although the ILO was working with other United Nations agencies in Nigeria to implement the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, the ILO was open to further working with Anambra State Government in the area of jobs creation for women and youth.
She informed the delegation of Anambra State Government that, being the only tripartite organization, the ILO works with governments, employers and labour unions in the Anglophone West African Countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. The ILO through Abuja Office has supported its tripartite partners in policies, programmes, capacities, etc through its Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in its areas of comparative advantage. She shared experiences of the ILO’s intervention in various countries of Africa under Abuja to include Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme also called Labour Based Technology (LBT); Start and Improve Your Business, Local Economic Development (LED), Migration, Child Labour, Social Protection, etc.
Dr. Okeke, stated that although the government of His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano was relatively new in office, the government was committed to consolidating the gains and achievements of the predecessor as well as making Anambra State one of the best in four areas where Anambra State. Accordingly, the government has set a four-point agenda to maximize the potentials of Anambra State and create jobs for the teeming youth and women of Anambra State; these include Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Industrialization and Oil and Gas, all of which are expected.
ILO to provide support in Agriculture and youth employment
Even though the lands of Anambra State are fertile for crops like Rice, maize and Cassava, there are not enough lands to enable the area to harvest big volumes. The government called on the ILO to assist in introducing training modules to build the skills and capacities of Ananbra indigenes for high productivity and value chain. Dr. Okeke stated that in view of the fact that Onitsha market is a West African hub, the government is determined to provide infrastructures to further boost trade and commerce in the State.The industrial development policy of the state was already attracting more investors from different parts of the world including South Africa. Recognizing that power was a major hindrance to expansion, the government resolved to invest in the power sector with the aim of generating 440 megawatts of electricity to be linked to the national grid. The government was also discussing with some private investors who would generate 1500 megawatts of electricity. The Government is investing in the social amenities like health, potable water supply, and education among others. He therefore called on the ILO for support in addressing youth unemployment.
In her contribution the ILO Country Director, Mrs. Chuma-Mkandawire, acknowledged that the Anambra State Government has been a very good friend of the United Nations System in Nigeria which culminated in the donation of its House in Abuja for the use of the United Nations following a bomb blast in 2011. She stated that, although the ILO was working with other United Nations agencies in Nigeria to implement the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, the ILO was open to further working with Anambra State Government in the area of jobs creation for women and youth.
She informed the delegation of Anambra State Government that, being the only tripartite organization, the ILO works with governments, employers and labour unions in the Anglophone West African Countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. The ILO through Abuja Office has supported its tripartite partners in policies, programmes, capacities, etc through its Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in its areas of comparative advantage. She shared experiences of the ILO’s intervention in various countries of Africa under Abuja to include Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme also called Labour Based Technology (LBT); Start and Improve Your Business, Local Economic Development (LED), Migration, Child Labour, Social Protection, etc.