Rising Unemployment: NGO To The Rescue

Kidnapping, illegal
oil bunkering, armed robbery and recently, the Boko Haram insurgency, have all been linked to the rising cases of unemployment in the country.
This situation is no doubt giving the government sleepless night as enormous resources are being deployed towards finding solutions to the problem.
However, a school of thought believes that the problem of unemployment should not be left to the government alone as the private sector must get involved in the provision of employment opportunities for the people.
It was against this background that a non governmental organisation,  Wisdom  To Wealth and Development Foundation came up with series of programmes to assist the government find solution to the challenge of unemployment in the society.
At a recent courtesy call on the General Manager of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), Mr Celestine Ogolo, in his office, the group said that the solution to the problem lies on skill acquisition.
The group’s position was encapsulated in document entitled: Partnership Proposal on entrepreneurship Leadership Empowerment, Wealth and Success Development to address poverty, kidnapping, youth restiveness, mass unemployment, examination malpractice via mental empowerment leadership development, socio political awareness entrepreneurial development”, a copy made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.
The group said that Nigerian undergraduates need to be equipped with the necessary skills to enable them become entrepreneurs after graduation.
According to the presentation made on behalf of the group by its Niger Delta coordinator, Prince Anyanate Kio, with skill acquisition, the country can improve the quality of lives of its citizenry.
“With the current trend of unemployment increasing annually with limited job opportunities in blue chip companies, retrenchment galore, global economic meltdown, military and Boko Haram infestation, depreciating tertiary institutions coupled with young graduate mentality of only gaining employment that is never available, it becomes pertinent to stand out for a rescue mission to salvage ambitious individual and organisations  to the realities of the 21st century sustainable success and development.
“With skill acquisition we can improve the quality of life of Nigerians by teaching people to create wealth for personal use by utilising the skills they have acquired”,  it said.
The coordinator said that Wisdom to Wealth has packaged entrepreneurd programmes that will help them become community and nation builders.
He listed some programmes the group is running to improve the quality of lives for Nigerian youths to include Entrepreneurial Employment Programme (EEP) Value Proposition and Target Population Location and numbers served.
According to him, the group is out to partner with eminent Nigerians including groups to find solution to the problem of unemployment in the society.
“We want to partner with you and awaken leaders of tomorrow in your organisation by training coaching and development people to pursue excellence for the growth and development of your organisation.
“The ultimate aim of this is the growth of small businesses which will create employment opportunities and eventually translate to wealth creation in Nigeria.
Mr Kio described the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation as one of the most important information organs in the country, noting that with the support of the corporation, the group will reach its target audience.
He thanked the management of the corporation for its readiness to support the group in the propagation of its activities and urged others to emulate it.
Responding, the General Manager of the corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo, said the group will surely get the support of Nigerians as its packages are capable of turning around their fortunes.
Ogolo also said that the group’s programme will go a long way in solving the problems of unemployment ignorance and poverty, noting that the corporation will give it the desired support.
The General Manager also urged the group to explore the various opportunities already put in place by the government to solve unemployment in the state.
He particularly called their attention to the various packages put in place by the government through the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) the Ministry of Employment Generation and Empowerment as well as other ministries and agencies.
According to the GM, with RSSDA, there are windows of opportunities that you can explore to achieve your objective.
Ogolo who commended the group for its national spread, however charged them to be committed to the implementation of their programme as Nigerians will judge them by it.
Highlight of the programmes was the presentation of the sum of N21,000 to one Gloria West as well as the presentation of Android phone to Samuel Ogodebom to enhance his ICT business.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu