By Abimbola Abatta
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has identified the need for stakeholders to collaborate in instilling the spirit of entrepreneurship in the youths as part of the efforts to address unemployment in the country.
The Governor said this on Wednesday while declaring open a one-day training workshop organised by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The workshop was aimed at imparting the youths with entrepreneurial skills so that they can be independent.
Governor Oyetola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, explained that entrepreneurship is the only potent tool for addressing Nigeria’s growing unemployment rate, especially youth unemployment.
He added that entrepreneurship will not only facilitate jobs, wealth creation and lead to poverty reduction, stressing that it will also curb youth restiveness and enhance national security.
While thanking the UNDP for initiating the laudable programme aimed at empowering participants with technical know-how that will prepare them for self-employment and guarantee them financial independence, Oyetola maintained that his administration will continue to put youth employment first at all times.
He said, “As a government, we recognise the importance of entrepreneurship and youth empowerment. It is to this end that we include youth entrepreneurship as one of the four key components of the Osun Youth Policy that was launched last year.
“To demonstrate our commitment to entrepreneurship development, we have embarked on different programmes to support our people to set up business enterprises and create wealth.
“Apart from organising empowerment and entrepreneurship training programmes, we have also facilitated loans ranging from N500,000 to N2.5million for about 5,000 people, mostly youth, to assist them to set up new businesses or grow their existing businesses. Efforts are on to increase the number of beneficiaries of this initiative, we have also provided jobs for 18,000 youths.
“I want to assure our people that we will continue to do our best to promote entrepreneurship and enhance the economic development of our State,” the Governor stated.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Focal Person for UNDP, Mr. Oyedeji Mundasiru explained that the current round of employment training will take place in six selected communities of Ipetu-Ijesa, Apomu, Aro, Oke Ogbo and Iba.