Business
300 Job Seekers Storm Agric Research Council
More than 300 persons thronged the Head Office of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in Abuja, seeking employment in the Lake Chad Agricultural Research Institute, Maiduguri.
Some of the applicants who spoke with newsmen last Tuesday blamed the high unemployment rate in the country on corruption.
They alleged that the few available job opportunities in the country were reserved for the “privileged few’’ as ordinary citizens hardly benefitted.
Mr Vathia Zakawa, a graduate of Federal University of Technology, Yola, now Modibo Adama University of Technology, said that the eradication of corruption would reduce the level of unemployment in the country.
“Let the government get rid of corruption and unemployment will be reduced; they are trying but they have to do more.
“Jobs in this country are only for those with high level connections; we were told as growing up kids that we were the leaders of tomorrow.
“We are growing old already and we are not yet employed let alone becoming leaders,’’ he lamented.
Mr Iliya Paul, a graduate of the University of Maidugiri, who has been job hunting since 2010, noted that some employed people were also after the limited available jobs, making it difficult for fresh graduates to be recruited.
“People are looking for greener pastures, they prefer better jobs to what they have and they won’t resign to make space for others.
“If government checkmates that, the unemployment figure will reduce.”
Paul stressed the need to make funds available to youths to encourage self-employment in the country.
More pathethic was the case of Mr Mustapha Abadam, a graduate of Mammud Polytechnic, Maiduguri, who said that he had spent 20 years searching for a job.
He said within this period, he had occupied himself with political activities, among others to survive.
“Unemployment is as a result of bad planning on the part of our leaders; they need to wake up.
“Government should also harmonise the salaries of public workers in the country so that employed people would stop blocking the opportunities for the unemployed,” he said.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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