Adedapo Adesanya
In its bid to tackle unemployment in the country, the federal government of Nigeria has announced its plans to partner with the British Government, which is willing to offer its assistance to its former colony.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, made this announcement when he hosted the Political Counsellor, British High Commission, Mr Dominic Williams in Abuja last week.
Mr Keyamo stated that the government was ever ready to collaborate with the British government because it was looking to key into many avenues that would bring about job creation in the Africa’s largest economy.
He said that as a result of this, the government had opened up other sectors as part of efforts to diversify the economy from oil, which would in turn create room for employment.
“The problem of unemployment can only be solved, not through direct employment by the government, but by training people to acquire basic skills by which they can be self-employed and also employ some small workforce,” Mr Keyamo said.
He also said that through the National Directorate of Employment, many Nigerian youths are being empowered on entrepreneurship through basic skill that would make them self-employed, which he noted will in turn make them employers also.
On his part, Mr Williams stated that Britain would seek ways in which it could assist Nigeria in its efforts at job creation.
Unemployment in Nigeria is one problem that has refused to go despite efforts by government, private organisations and others to tackle the issue.
Since the present government came into power, millions of jobs have been lost as a result of harsh economic environment, which has made it difficult for companies to keep their employees on their payroll. In 2016, Nigeria went into recession and since then, the economy has not recovered.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Aduragbemi Omiyale