Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is committed to ensure that the 5.3 million unemployed Nigerian youths are gainfully employed.
She made this declaration on thursday, at the commissioning of the Global Distance Learning Institute, GDLI, in Abuja.
While stating that unemployment has been a major issue even before President Jonathan’s tenure, revealed that efforts were being made to encourage youths not to completely depend on seeking for jobs rather they should become entrepreneurs and labor employers.
“President Jonathan is very worried about problem of unemployment in the country. That is the reason we are so excited about this GDLI. It would create jobs and also train youths in skill acquisition,” she said.
It will also be recalled that Okonjo-Iweala, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy said the government has been able to provide jobs last year while speaking on youth development on Tuesday and that no fewer than 1.8 million graduates in the country move into the labour market every year.
“I am proud to say that after two months of methodological work, the statisticians have come up with the data that 1.8 million people in the country enter the job market yearly.”
“I am happy to tell you that last year we were able to create 1.6 million jobs. So we are getting close to the 1.8 million that enter the job market.”