The efforts of the Federal Government at reversing the unacceptable trend of youths unemployment in Nigeria has received a further boost, as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in partnership with the African Development Bank (AFDB), has commenced work on a program plan termed Youth Employment and Skills Development in Nigeria, Public-Private Roundtable.

Addressing the team of experts from African Development Bank, led by Rosemond Offei Awuke, Chief Development Economist, Human Capital Youth and Skills Development in his office recently, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige affirmed that the problem of youth unemployment is very serious in Nigeria and other Africa countries.

According to him “The youths constitute a larger proportion of Nigeria’s Population; the pertinent question, therefore, is how many of these youths are fully employed, underemployed and unemployed? Alarmingly, the majority of Nigerian youths are in the underemployed and unemployed categories.”

Ngige emphasized that the Public-Private Sector roundtable is very important to identify the factors responsible for high youth unemployment and make recommendations that would address the daunting challenges associated with it, as well as seek to implement most of the recommendations with a view to reverse the ugly trend of rising youth unemployment in Nigeria.

The Minister assured the African Development Bank team that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is not relenting in its efforts at creating the much needed decent jobs for Nigeria youths, adding that the quantum jobs being created through various intervention programmes such, as the Npower further contribute to the gains.

“We assure you that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to all efforts aimed at job creation for the teeming unemployed Nigerian youths. I have no doubt that from this roundtable meaningful solutions will be provided on youth employment.” The Minister enthused.

Earlier in her remarks, the Chief Development Economist, Human Capital Youth and Skills Development, Rosemond Offei Awuke appreciated the Minister for his unwavering commitment to the fight against youth unemployment. She avowed the determination of the African Development Bank to support the present administration in its drive at job creation.