As heat over the rising unemployment rate in Nigeria continues to generate controversies, the Asian-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) has declared its resolve to reduce the unemployment rate among youths and young graduates in the Country by strategic measures.
The body, as a part of its measures, has disclosed its move to reposition its affairs by incorporating seasoned individuals to pilot its affairs in Nigeria with the aim to accommodate numerous unemployed graduates in the Country.
The Vice-Chairman, African Region of the Association, High Prince (Dr) Leye Talpha Babalola, in his address after the inaugural election of the executives, said the repositioning of the Chamber became paramount in view of the ultimate benefit inherent in having such an organised and well-connected Chamber in the country.
According to him, the need to have trusted and tested Nigerian entrepreneurs and result-oriented individuals to pilot the affairs of the Chamber as well as act as Advisory Board members of the Chamber is paramount.
Babalola maintained that the AACCI was set up as a trade revolutionary vehicle or platform to promote commerce, inbound investments, and to help members’ businesses learn, collaborate, build strategically partnerships and manage transformational change.
He added that AACCI is the only chamber of its kind at the apex level to the existing bi-lateral chambers across the two regions.
“AACCI, with the support of its Head Quarters (Asian Secretary Hub) in India, and African secretariat office in Nigeria as well as satellite offices in Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Hong Kong, liaises with local/bilateral chamber of commerce to promote its member’s interest, hence the need to reposition the Nigerian branch to accommodate those that can translate the efforts of having our unemployed graduates fixed at different industries and entrepreneural facilities scattered around the country,” Babalola said.
Some of those elected to pilot the affairs of the Chamber include, Mr. Adesokan Adeyemi Taofiq – President; Mr Anrinle Ahmed Adekunle – Vice President; Mr. Emmanuel Utomi Ayele – Secretary; and Dr (Mrs) Zaidat Mopelola Babalola – Treasurer.
The Vice Chairman African-Region, however, urged the new executive to move the Nigerian Chapter to its enviable heights in the 102 African member nations and to ensure quality representation of Nigeria and Africa that will foster development and realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for SME’s 2030 as envisaged by AACCI.
“The founding fathers of the AACCI consider the idea of leveraging on the chamber as a tool to bridge the gap between African and Asian businesses and entrepreneurs having business interest in their respective countries,” he said.
He concluded that the Chamber among other functions assist members to navigate, reach out and succeed with services that include networking, training, education, support, savings, business development for members among others.
Unemployment rate in Nigeria has continued to rise at disturbing heights. The National Bureau of Statistics had in March pegged Nigeria’s unemployment rate at 33.3 per cent, translating to about 23.2 million people for the fourth quarter of 2020, the highest in at least 13 years and the second highest rate in the world.