The chairman, Dangote Group of Company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has expressed fear over the rising rate of unemployment among Nigerian youths, saying the country might continue to witness security challenges if not properly addressed.
Alhaji Dangote, who promised not to relent in his efforts to ensure that youths are gainfully employed with a view to reducing the menace in the society, urged the governments at all levels to put in more efforts by tackling security challenges bedevilling the nation.
Speaking through the Executive Director, Stakeholders Management and Corporate Communications of the company, Mansur Ahmed, after a meeting with delegation of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) StarTimes Naija Farmers Reality TV show led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Chigbo Okoli, in Abuja, he said all hands must be on deck to find permanent solution to the issues of unemployment and security challenges.
According to him: “I understand that the project that has been put together under the directive of Dr Okoli with the support of NTA and government is something that every Nigerian, corporate or individual must support because of the present situation.
ALSO READ: IGP approves Police Post for Arts and Culture village
“We are in the crisis today, unemployment is massive and obviously, the consequential poverty in Nigeria is such that, if we don’t take some very measures and steps to change the direction of things, we will all be in serious trouble.
“Let me say clearly that this team and Dangote Group are committed to working with other stakeholders to help lift and increase number of Nigerians that are currently below the poverty line and create conducive environment for young people to be more meaningfully engaged in productive economic activities, because that is the only way we can also address the twin problems of insecurity.
“We believe that insecurity is direct consequence for poverty. When there is poverty, there is likely to be insecurity. When there is insecurity, it tends to make poverty situation worse. So, we have to address this issue and I believe that all of us, at every level, have a role to play,” he stated.
Alhaji Dangote said the visiting delegation, who were from the Federal Ministries of Labour and employment, Youths and Sport, as well as Women Affairs and Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) alongside his company, would jointly work on partnership template with a view to empowering targeted Nigerian populace.
“We will deliver this message to him and I have already told Dr Okoli that we will sit down and discuss in details, the framework and define a template on how the Dangote Group/Foundation can participate and the role it will play because that is absolute,” he stated.
Earlier, Dr Okoli stated that the rising rate of poverty among Nigerians prompted the team as stakeholders to initiate the idea of partnering with a strong private sector in Africa.
Also speaking, the National President of RATTAWU, Comrade Kabir Garba Tssani, said the partnership would bring out positive impact on Nigerians, especially youths who are roaming the streets.