The Ekiti state government has revealed that no fewer than 2,000 persons across the state will be exposed to different skills and opportunities in a bid to address the growing rate of unemployment in the state.
In a press conference jointly addressed by the trio of Commissioners of Trade and Investment, Chief David Olusoga, Information, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua as well as the Managing Director of Ekiti Fountain Holdings Limited, Oscar Seyi-Ayeleso, ahead of the state entrepreneurship week noted that the participants would be transformed to become employers of labour.
The 3-day event slated to begin Thursday this week will feature; Training, Mentoring, Exhibition and other programs targeted addressing the unemployment rate in the state.
Olusoga said that the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi was deeply worried that many able-bodied men and women, with the sound educational background, are roaming the streets with no jobs.
He disclosed that government at all levels could no longer provide the needed jobs to unemployed youths, saying other areas of human capital development must be harnessed to bridge the gap.
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He said the Ekiti entrepreneurship programme of the state was patterned after the Annual Global Entrepreneurship Week, (GEW), which is an annual international programme that had consistently introduced entrepreneurship to young people across the globe.
Started in 2008 he said the GEW had since then, attracted participants from about 170 countries of the world.
He said: “The Ekiti version of the GEW is, therefore, a strategy to upscale the development of the spirit of entrepreneurship among the youths of Ekiti state.
“The aim is to inspire our youth and unleash their latent entrepreneurial skills and Ida’s for their benefits and the greater people of Ekiti
“Our goals are to motivate the youth into a pool of individuals who will conceive the business idea that creates employment opportunities
“In other words, rather than being job seekers, our youths will be galvanised to becoming employers of labour.”
According to him, 2,000, of the 5,000 participants expected, would be trained in various skills capable of making them stand on their feet, after which they would be empowered to enable them function without hitches.
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