Tackling Youths Unemployment. . Ondo Took A Bolder Step!

Coiled from The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria 17th of June, 2008

Ondo compiles unemployed youths' data

AS part of its commitment to tackle the problem of unemployment among youths in Ondo, the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu has ordered the compilation of the statistics of all unemployed youths in the state, with the hope of providing them employment within the next few months.

Already, a committee saddled with the responsibility had been set up to gather relevant details, including educational qualifications.

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Prince John Ola Mafo, who made this known recently while addressing reporters at a press conference, said that the department of Youths Development in his ministry was handling the compilation.

According to him, government was set to compile a compendium, containing names and credentials of unemployed youths in order to reduce the poverty level in the state, saying that more youths would be employed by the administration in addition to the number that had been engaged in various youth programmes in the state.

His words: "The youths in the state are accorded priority under the various empowerment schemes launched by the state government, while some of them had been sent on various training within and outside the country to broaden their knowledge."

Continuing, he said: "This gesture is part of the policy of the Agagu-led administration, which would go a long way in reducing poverty in our land. Let me also say that all those being recruited into the civil and teaching service as well as local governments are youths who are not more than 30 years of age."

Besides, he said the action was a deliberate policy to ensure that some of the youths that have the required qualification are employed and allowed to make a career in the public service.

He stressed that since the state youth policy was adopted and published in 2005, the state government has ensured that subventions were paid to about 250 youth organisations that were registered with the state government.

The commissioner further disclosed that some of the unemployed youths that were interested in sporting activities were encouraged through payment of allowances during weekend camping and were being trained and assisted to get offers within and outside the state.

Mafo noted that the sum of N3.8 million has so far been released by the state government to the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria as grants to assist in some of its activities.

He added that for provision of essential services at the permanent NYSC camp, Ikare Akoko, over N224 million had been expended to cover rehabilitation of dilapidated hostels, building of new hostels to accommodate more members and sinking of boreholes among others."


How I wish other States could show more concern for her Patriotic citizens and focus more on her youths! I'm sure it's going to make a whole lot of difference. We need a change! And a drastic one for that matter, let there be concerted efforts towards youth empowerment.
Or what do you think?

fingers crossed on the outcome of this move

And what happens when the the public service becomes top-heavy in future?
Self employment would have been a better alternative, I think

@Olowotee i don't mean to discourage you and i desperately hope such a venture proves fruitful, i really do. However i just feel obliged to inform you that such was done in Port Harcourt also, i hope this one is genuine and proves fruitful.