The National Director
ate of Employment (NDE) in Bayelsa State, has called for collaboration among the three tiers of government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in creating employment for youths.
The State Co-ordinator of NDE, Mr Apakasa David, told newsmen in Yenagoa that such collaboration would accelerate national development.
He said job-creation should not be left in the hands of the Federal Government alone, as this would not be in the overall interest of the country.
“Government alone cannot provide all the employment opportunities.
“It requires institutional collaboration by the government, NGOs, faith-based organisations and wealthy individuals and families to create employment.
“We need to have the three tiers of government, especially the state and local governments, to create the enabling environment that will generate this employment.
“The NDE has generated employment over the years, and that is why the programme from time to time undergoes some review to accommodate the emerging trend in unemployment spectrum.
“We cannot say that we have not done enough if we take the larger picture of the rate of unemployment.
“Some of them are role models. We have two female welders training apprentices for us now. So, this is an additional employment we have created through them.
David said all hands must be on deck in the fight against unemployment in the country.
He commended the level of youth participation in skills acquisition in Bayelsa, saying the state had recorded a huge success over time.
The NDE state co-ordinator said the directorate had trained the youths in agriculture, tailoring, welding and carpentry, among others.
He urged unemployed youths to continue to embrace skills acquisition in line with the federal government’s transformation agenda.