No fewer than 150,000 youth from Ondo state will benefit from a skill development empowerment programme organised by the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, for unemployed young people in Ondo state.
Akeredolu who disclosed this during the opening of a two-day training programme for some 200 unemployed youths in the state which was organised by the newly established Ondo State Office of Innovation and Partnerships in collaboration with German Development Corporation GIZ.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant of Innovation and Partnerships, Joel Ogunsola, who said the plan will be implemented over an 18 month period and will include employability engagements, matching of the unemployed with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for paid internships as well as other full-time job opportunities.
ALSO READ: ASUU tackles education minister over comments on N25 billion earned allowance approval
He said “Our newly established Office of Innovation and Partnerships office is directly responsible for empowering young people, we are working to engage up to 150,000 people within 18 months.
“The objective is basically to take them through different career advisory options, help them understand what the opportunities are within the Nigerian ecosystem, and specifically train them on basic digital and technological skills.
“But beyond training, the partnership is to particularly fix them with jobs. We have gotten commitments from some agencies of government and SME’s that had already keyed into the project. We are indeed grateful to GIZ for the commitment to pay the cost of the internships.”
He disclosed that the Innovation Office will promote entrepreneurship, enterprise development and economic growth through innovation, urging youth to follow up on other partnerships programmes of the office for more opportunities.
Addressing the participants, the National Coordinator for the Nigerian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration, Mrs Elizabeth Olayinka-Adekunle said the partnership is to empower Nigerians with skills that can make them self-reliant, by introducing them to Entrepreneurial thinking, emerging opportunities within the Nigerian Economic Space, Job placement training to mention a few.
Speaking at the event, the Regent of Ibulesoro, in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state, Princess Moyinoluwa Falowo commended the state government for the initiative which she emphasised will expose the participants to basic requirements to get and create jobs as well as reduce the penchant for illegal immigration among young people.