The Nation Newspaper

Tag: world bank

  • ‘World needs 600m jobs’

    ‘World needs 600m jobs’

    Hundreds of millions of new jobs will be needed to keep up with world population growth by 2020, the World Bank said in a report that highlights the importance of jobs to development.

    As populations surge in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of positions will need to increase by 600 million over 2005 levels, the report said.

    The global economic crisis poses a challenge to that goal as some 200 million people remain unemployed, including 75 million under the age of 25.

    The World Bank said the most influential development gains can come from jobs that not only provide a source of income to workers, but also make cities function better, connect with global markets, protect the environment, foster civic engagement and reduce poverty.

    “A good job can change a person’s life, and the right jobs can transform entire societies. Governments need to move jobs to centre stage to promote prosperity and fight poverty,’’ the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, said.

  • World Bank approves $10m to build pedestrian bridges

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Mike Onolememen, yesterday said World Bank has approved $10 million for four pedestrian bridges in Abuja.

    He spoke at the approval of six pedestrian bridges in Abuja.

    According to him, the building of the bridges is an integral part of the road safety components of the federal road development project.

    He said: “The objective of the road safety components of the federal road development project is to improve safety level on the roads.

    “It is in realisation of this that the World Bank approved $10 million for the building of four pedestrian bridges on some selected roads in Abuja.

    “The collaboration between the World Bank and the Federal Government in financing this project at a ratio of 9-1 under the road sector development team of the Ministry of Works is imperative and represents the way forward for critical infrastructures in line with the government’s policy of promoting partnership with multi-lateral and private sector financiers.

    “The six bridges in phase one and two were awarded by the government to Messrs Dutum Company Ltd, Rural Steel Bridging Ltd and Enerco Nigeria Ltd with a contract period of six months each.

    “This is to reduce fatalities on Nigerian roads as part of the safe road corridor concept. Our determination cannot be compromised because the lives of our citizens crossing these roads are vital to our socio-economic renewal and national transformation.

    “It is gratifying to note that this project, when completed, will improve the safe crossing movement of people in a manner that will ensure the achievement of our common objective of combining efforts and resources to address issues on road safety in Nigeria and to save lives.

    “In the first phase of the exercise, we are building pedestrian bridges in the following locations with high pedestrian traffic: Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Tafawa Balewa Way, Old Secretariat Junction and Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Wuye Junction.

    “Others are, Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Ahmadu Bello Way, Banex Junction; Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Shehu Shagari Way, Nicon Junction; Shehu Yar’Adua Way by Okonjo Iweala Way, VIO Mabushi Junction and Shehu Yar’Adua Way by Ladi Kwali Way, Sheraton Junction.”

  • Access Nigeria, World Bank partner

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    Access Nigeria in collaboration with the World Bank have concluded arrangement for a two-day National Jobs Fair.
    The fair commences tomorrow at the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos.

    In a statement, World Bank said the event will serve as platform for the organiSations and potential employers to recruit young, skilled and competent employees into their workforce.

    “A broad range of employers from various sectors of the economy such as Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Telecommunications, Banking, Insurance, Private sector, Media, etc. are expected to participate at the event,” it said.
    The World Bank had in 2010, supported Access Nigeria programme during which Skills Gap Analysis conducted showed a distinct gap between what employers need and what they end up getting. It was discovered that most youth lack the fundamental skills required to succeed in the labour market, such as communication skills, cognitive skills and computer skills. This insight led to the formation of the Access Nigeria skills programme.

    The programme has in the last two years assessed more than 3000 youth on globally-benchmarked fundamental skills for Information Technology-enabled services economy.

  • Govt, World Bank to fight hazards

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    The Federal Government and World Bank have said they would spend $18.5 million to tackle hazards caused by Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) to the environment.

    World Bank Country Director in Nigeria Ms Marie Francoise Nelly gave the hint in Abuja during the launch of the PCB project.
    She said the Global Environment Fund (GEF) has provided $6.3 million, while the Federal Government is to contribute the counterpart funding of $12.2 million for the elimination of environmental and health risks posed by PCBs.

    Nelly, who spoke through the World Bank’s Senior Operations Officer, Mr Badrul Hague, said the environmental and health risks come from the release of PCBs from the active and decommissioned electrical equipment in Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) facilities as well as from other industries that have PCB stocks, such as dip refineries, airports and textile mills.

    “Safe disposal of wastes reduces the environmental and health risks, and this is the objective of the PCBs project. In particular, the project will strengthen and harmonise hazardous chemical and waste management system, and facilities safe disposal of hazardous wastes.”

    “Through timely intervention of the PCB project, an environmental and health risks in Nigeria could be reduced substantially by safe disposal of the existing stockpiles and development of a management system for safe disposal of future toxic wastes,” she added.