The Nation Newspaper

Tag: creation

  • NDDC steps up job creation programmes

    NDDC steps up job creation programmes

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it has concluded plans to develop training programmes that will fast-track job creation in the region.

    The NDDC Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere, said this in a statement by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs Ibitoye Abosede in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    Ekere said about 5,000 youths and women would benefit from the programmes slated to begin during the first quarter of 2018 in the nine states of the region.

    “We promise that the enterprise hub will be up and running in the shortest possible time. The hub will help create more jobs and fight unemployment to end militancy.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the commission to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Niger Delta youths and women are gainfully and profitably engaged and empowered for sustainable livelihood.

    “This is precisely what we are doing and this is exactly what we will do with an increased tempo this year,’’ he said.

    According to him, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with stakeholders for the establishment of the nation’s first enterprise innovation and growth hub.

    Ekere said the commission’s home finishing skill training would cover key areas such as welding and fabrication, modern printing technology and solar power technology.

    Other areas covered by the training are maritime technology, entrepreneurship development, food processing, catering and confectioneries, creative arts and entertainment, as well as fashion design and tailoring.

    He said the commission had also rolled out another skill acquisition training that sought to boost construction industry in Niger Delta and the country.

    “The skill gap in quality finishing of homes, offices and other building projects has remained yawning and a constant source of concern for home owners and operators in the construction industry.

    “In most cases, the standard of finishing of homes and offices is so poor that builders and home owners resort to hiring skilled tradesmen and craftsmen from neighbouring countries and even beyond.

    “This is one of the reasons why we have decided to intervene in this sector of the construction industry in furtherance of our mandate on human capital development.

    “This programme, therefore, seeks to develop and deliver training, under the supervision of world class experts from United Kingdom for 100 qualified participants in the first instance,’’ he said.

    The managing director said that beneficiaries would learn P.O.P ceiling installation; wall screening and painting; floor plumbing; electricity wiring; specialised carpentry and interior decoration.

    He gave the assurance that the training would be based on requirements taken from relevant United Kingdom occupational standards and associated organisations with focus on meeting requirements in Nigeria

  • Expert canvasses wealth creation in beauty industry

    An expert in the beauty industry, Mr. Abdelrahman Kurdieh, has canvassed the need to ride on the crest of Nigeria’s burgeoning beauty industry to create wealth.

    He said the industry has numerous economic advantages if adequately explored and promoted.

    Kurdieh, who is the Regional Brand Development Manager, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, spoke at a road show in Lagos, organised to raise awareness on the 23rd Beautyworld Fair billed to hold in Dubai next May.

    Expressing optimism over the industry’s bright outlook in Nigeria and the Middle East, he noted that the upcoming edition of the leading international trade fair for beauty products will effectively boost the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Kurdieh said the region’s beauty & personal care sales are expected to reach $34.5 billion by 2021, up from $30 billion in 2016. He said the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region will be the driving force behind the future growth of the industry globally.

    According to him, the fair will hold from May 8 to 10 at Dubai International Convention Centre and Exhibition. The exhibition, he said, would showcase six basic product groups namely, hair, and nails and salon supplies.

    Others are cosmetics and skincare, machinery, packaging and raw materials, personal care and hygiene, fragrance compounds and finished fragrance as well as natural & organic.

    Kurdieh added that the company has also introduced a business matchmaking programme to facilitate business connections between exhibitors and visitors.

    Speaking at the sensitisation session, Registration and Regulatory Affairs Director, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, urged Nigerians to take advantage of the fair to speed up the growing sector. She said the platform was critical to expanding the sector’s frontiers.

  • Germany, Canada to collaborate with NLC on job creation initiatives

    Germany, Canada to collaborate with NLC on job creation initiatives

    The German and Canadian governments have pledged to collaborate with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on vocational training and skills acquisition.

    The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christopher Thornley, who stated this in Abuja, when he hosted the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, commended the congress for adopting focusing on vocational training for the youth.

    He said the trade union movement in Canada has been involved in HIV/AIDS campaign, stressing that it is common knowledge that unemployment has become like an epidemic in the country.

    He described the NLC as an important partner in the development of the country, adding that labour economy is a very important source of information for any society.

    Receiving the NLC delegation, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Berhard Schlagheck, reiterated the German government readiness to collaborate with the NLC to ensure the development of the country and the trade union movement.

    The NLC helmsman said collaboration with Germany and Canada was necessary to curb the high level of migration through the Mediterranean by Nigerian youths seeking better sources of living.

    At the Canadian High Commission, Wabba said the congress was committed to working with development partners to explore areas of possible assistance within the context of the current economic challenges, especially in the area of unemployment and vocational training.

    Wabba noted that the congress would continue its advocacy in development, pointing out that the congress was playing a leading role on the African Continent in development.

    He said the power sector, which is critical to development, has remained a major challenge and sought Canada’s assistance to overcome the  challenges, saying since  Canada had similar challenges, the congress would want to know how it overcame i.hem

    He also canvassed the assistance of the Canadian government in advancing social justice, stressing that in a society where there is lack of social justice, inequality will prevail.

    At the German Embassy, Wabba said the congress was ready to learn from Germany how it overcame the problem of unemployment.

    He said  the congress has been working with German agencies such as the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in developing the capacity of trade union movement in Nigeria.

  • Agip spends $5.4 billion on job creation

    Agip spends $5.4 billion on job creation

    The Vice Chairman/Managing Director, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NOAC), Massimo Insulla, has said the Italian oil giant has spent over $5.4 billion in-country, to create jobs and boost economy.

    He said the oil firm is supporting and celebrating the rapid growth of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry in order to motivate more local players.

    He stated this at the 2017 Nigerian Content activities organised  by NAOC at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with concentration on Indigenous Technology and ENI/Universities Collaborative Research Forum and Exhibition, which was also used to sign a pact with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to grow the nation’s content and its economy.

    Insulla pointed out that the oil firm’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MAN was aimed at encouraging manufacturing, give the sector a boost and seek mutual cooperation to grow Nigerian content.

    He said: “The forum is significant because of the mission of Eni, which recognises that diversity across all aspects of our operations and organisation is something to be cherished. We believe in the value of long-term partnerships with the countries and communities where we operate.

    “In the last six years, Eni has domiciled over $5.4 billion in-country, to create jobs and boost economy. For over 55 years, we have been working in Nigeria to build a future where everyone can access energy resources efficiently and sustainably. This is who we are.

    “We are celebrating the rapid growth of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry, since the enactment of the NOGICD Act in 2010, the great works of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), as well as the giant strides of our indigenous service providers, academia, MAN and Petroleum Technology Association, among others.

    “As a demonstration of Eni’s commitment to expand our operations and grow Nigerian content, we are implementing a number of projects in the Nigerian oil and gas, as well as energy sectors, including deep offshore project, Independent Power Project (IPP) phase two, ongoing feasibility for construction of a brand new 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery, support  for rehabilitation of Port Harcourt refinery, efficiency study of the national grid and support for alternative energy mix.

  • NCDMB, firm partner on job creation

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, has pledged to create jobs and upscale the capacity of Nigerians in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit to Dorman Long Engineering, at the weekend, Wabote said it would be achieved through partnership with the company.

    He added that NCDMB would use the implementation of Nigerian content to support President Muhammed Buhari’s administration to create jobs and upscale the capacity and skills of Nigerians in the oil and gas Industry.

    He lauded Dorman Long Engineering’s commitment towards building and sustaining the growth of Nigerian content, especially ongoing work on the Egina project.

    He, however, noted that the urgent task before the board would be to review its activities and implementation process and evolve new strategies.

    Chairman of Dorman Long Engineering, Dr Timi Austen-Peters, thanked the Chairman for his words of encouragement and assured the team of Dorman Long’s commitment to Nigeria.

    He added that the company was ready to key into the Federal Government’s job creation plan through the development of local content.

    “There’s no doubt that we are partners in progress and we would like to reassure you that we have extensive plans that would be strongly beneficial to Nigeria’s socio-economic climate.

    “Our expansion plan will see significant job creation, skills and technology transfer, as well as capacity building,” he said

  • Experts pick holes in policies on job creation

    The rising unemployment rate in Nigeria has been traced to the anti-job creation policies of the government, experts, have said. They argued that Nigeria, with an estimated population of 180 million, is battling with 49.5 per cent youth unemployment rate as at the second quarter  of 2016.

    The experts and stakeholders, who spoke in Lagos at the WorldStage Economic Summit, with the theme: Addressing unemployment crisis in Nigeria, urged the government to carry out a major review of its economic policies.

    Dr. Femi Saibu of the Department of Economics, University of Lagos, Akoka, who presented the lead paper, drew attention to the policy on ICT revolution, saying it was employment destructive, service oriented and not production/manufacturing oriented.

    ‘’The government’s direct employment policy only created few jobs  while the series of youth entrepreneurship scheme across the country including ‘You Win’ always ended up creating social media entrepreneurs with no employment multiplier,’’ he said.

    Moreover, he said the Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme has failed to achieve its objective, as the funds were difficult to access. He said apart from being politicised, people saw it as share of national cake.

    Research & Advocacy, Executive Director, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Mr Sunday  Oduntan, in his presentation, Getting the power sector right to boost productivity, said the power sector was facing many surmountable challenges that had made it unable to play its role as the engine of growth for job creation.

    His words: “The whole electricity supply chain still remains comatose; the promised increased generation and reliability as part of privatisation –has not happened; generation continued to hover between 3, 000 and 4, 000Megawatts. Energy theft and meter by-passing are very rampant. There is insufficient number of meters due to liquidity gap and massive shortfalls.”

    He said the Electricity Generating Companies (GENCOs) have been bedeviled by issues around gas supply such as high cost of gas, vandalisation of gas pipelines, including delay and frustration in construction of power plants.

    He said there was hope for the sector if some milestones, such as funding of liquidity by subsidy & private sector fund, incremental generation, stability and security in generation could be achieved.

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) boss, who was represented by Dr Dele Oyeku, Director, Extension & Linkage, said there was no reason why Nigeria should be facing unemployment crisis if government could implement the research findings of institutions such as FIIRO.

    For instance, he said there was an initiative on cassava substitution for wheat in baking which can generate millions of jobs across the country.

    The Cnief Executive Officer of Crown Natures, Mrs.Omolara  Aromolaran, who spoke on Addressing youth unemployment through capacity building and skill acquisition, said: “Our problems as a nation will come to an end once we become a manufacturing state.”

    She also noted that Nigeria and Nigerians needed to start producing what are essential to enhance the economy and create jobs.

    “Nigeria has always been a country that tackles problems with one strategy. The situation requires us to tackle it with multi strategies, whatever we can do individually should be done, and little by little, we shall begin to see our problems getting solved. The situation on ground is not new, but we  need Nigerians to realise that every individual has a part to play in economic rejuvenation.”

    Welcoming participants, the President/CEO, WorldStage Limited, Segun Adeleye, said the alarming rate of unemployment in Nigeria should not only be of great concern to the government, but also to the private sector and other critical stakeholders in the economy.

  • Centre unveils job creation template

    The Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Lagos has unveiled how it could help graduates land dream jobs.

    Its Director, Prof Anthony Kila, in a statement, said the centre’s new fast- track programmes for graduates have been designed specifically to address gaps identified by recruiters.

    He said CIAPS OBE Programmes “are Outcome Based Educational programmes built on research” adding “the inputs we get from dynamic organisations about their recruitment needs as well as their employment and development strategies is commendable.”

    Kila explained that many firms partnering the centre had expressed difficulties in finding the right kind of employees because many graduates are not work ready.

    He said CIAPS programmes by next month, would expose graduates to practical training in Media and Journalism, Business Administration, Production and Operations Management, Business Development, Project Management, Event Management, Banking and Finance, and Graduate Diploma for Senior PAs Executive Assistants.

    The programmes would also help young people and graduates familiarise themselves with the working environment as a fundamental part of their study, Kila added.

    Kila said the centre hopes to generate over 100 jobs through the scheme.

    However, he said selection of applicants would be stringent.

    In addition to good grades earned from the university or polytechnic, Kila said the applicants would undergo written assessments and verbal interview in which they must demonstrate “good imagination and creative thinking; written and verbal communication skills; ability and willingness to learn; sense of responsibility and ability to work in a team; resilience and stability; and integrity and respect for others’’.

     

  • NASS to support ITF on job creation

    NASS to support ITF on job creation

    • To train 1000 youths from each state

    The Chairman, House Committee on Industry, Hon. Abubakar Moriki has pledged the committee’s readiness to champion and support the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) mandate, which is job creation.

    He said the committee will support through the amendment of the ITF Act that is targeted at ensuring the achievement of the Fund’s mandate

    The lawmaker also promised to work with the ITF to resolve the lingering problem of appropriations for the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), particularly the capital component of the budget of the Scheme, which he lamented, was omitted in the 2016 budget. He said the Committee has advised that it should be included in the capital budget of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for the year 2017, promising to ensure that it is passed into law.

    He said: “As legislators, we enact laws; we also amend existing laws to ensure that they conform to contemporary realities.

    “As a Committee, we will champion the cause of any enactments or amendments or whatever, which you want the National Assembly to do in order to improve on your mandate as you have appealed to us.”

  • Women entrepreneurs advised on job creation  

    Alldens Lane, a business advisory and consulting firm with a  focus on supporting women-owned enterprises, has urged  women entrepreneurs to embrace the strategic position of job creation.

    Founder and Principal of Alldens Lane,  Ruka Sanusi, quoting Forbes Insight report,said that today’s young and emerging business leaders  will ultimately create responsive African solutions to Africa’s critical economic and social challenges.

    According to the study, Nigeria stands out among the Sub-Saharan countries surveyed by Forbes Insights in that it has the highest number of young people wanting to be entrepreneurs. Nigeria-specific case studies reveal that, when asked about what the top drivers of job creation for young people will be over the next five years, 40 per cent of respondents pointed to entrepreneurship and SMEs, she stated.

    On the question of the entities that will create the most jobs for young people over the next five years in Nigeria,  she said: “ From surveys, while 56 per cent  pointed to government, public and social sector, a significant 51 per cent  said it would be entrepreneurs and business owners who would make a difference in people’s lives by providing employment”. She added that women’s entrepreneurs’ role in advancing the economy, creating and offering jobs would be a key driver of economic growth. She agreed with Ernst and Young’s report on how women-owned businesses can recharge the global economy. It will be recalled the report states that to help women-owned businesses grow and create jobs, there needs to be a deliberate improvement in their access to capital, the global supply chain and business networks, all of which can help them scale. The report also states that data from The World Bank, The World Economic Forum and other organisations continue to demonstrate that women-owned businesses can be the tipping point for a global economic comeback.

    Ms. Sanusi added, “Running a business successfully needs focused, deliberate leadership and women entrepreneurs and CEOs can lead the way in that regard through purposeful and transformational leadership”.

    She added that her firm had  a unique focus on providing women-owned and women-led enterprises with advisory support, business direction, and thought provoking business performance and growth analytics, from which they can grow and transform their businesses and  lives.

  • Lagos partners FG on job creation

    Lagos State government yesterday disclosed plans by the Federal Government to assist in provision of jobs for unemployed youths in the state.

    The decision followed an official visit by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Princess Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, to Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalong, in Abuja.

    Speaking on Thursday in Lagos, Princess Akinbile-Yussuff, disclosed that all plans have been concluded by the Federal Government towards assisting the state in the area of job creation youths who are not gainfully employed in Lagos State.

    She said: “The meeting has just begun to yield positive results. The minister has promised to work in tandem with Lagos State government in alleviating poverty and more importantly, providing jobs for teeming Lagos youths through creation of more job opportunities and empowerment programmes.

    “In addition to the efforts by our amiable governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode in job creation, we also need to solicit for support of the federal government for lasting solutions to unemployment in our society.