RSG Creates 100,000 Jobs In Three Years …Plans 2,000 Hectare Juice Factory

Not fewer than 100,000 jobs have been created by the Chief Nyesom Wike-led administration in the past three years.
The jobs, according to the governor who spoke through Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Agency,Ambassador Desmond Akawor at the first State Employers Forum was driven by the various construction projects carried out by the government.
Wike who tagged the employment policy framework of his government as CAT- Construction, Agriculture and Tourism said the other core area of agriculture is already in full gear.
He disclosed that plans have begun with a new MoU with a South African firm to cultivate 2,000 hectares of land in Odagwa, Etche for the production of fruit and vegetable juice.
Also, he stated that the government has approved expansion of former Risonpalm now Siat plant to engage more youths.
Wike added, “the other aspect is tourism and we are working towards ensuring that our natural resources are used to empower our people.”
The governor further said, “ the time has come to create employment, but for us, the most important thing is to create the environment for jobs to come. To ensure that the issue of security is key.”
Earlier, Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa said an Employment Trust Fund that will be private sector driven will be established to provide foundation for new employment policy.
Dr. Nwibubasa said corporats bodies have a key role to play to drive the employment agenda of the government.
In order to sustain the vision, he hinted that a quarterly employment roundtable will be held in the state.
Also, plans have reached advanced stages for a 2,000 juice factory at Odagwa in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The factory is owned by a South African firm, which recently entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rivers State Government to convert the huge fruit and vegetable products in the area for commercial purpose.
The State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, while speaking at the maiden edition of the Rivers State Employers Roundtable organized by the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment in Port Harcourt yesterday, emphasized that agriculture remains key focus of the administration to create job.
Represented at the event by Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPCDA), Ambassador Desmond Akawor, the governor explained that the juice factory would further consolidate gains made with former Risonpalm now Slat in employment generation through agriculture.
The governor who tagged his employment generation policy as CAT-Construction, Agriculture and Tourism, said the government is on the last pap, noting that soon tourism will be fully exploited.
He said, “the issue of employment generation is key to this administration. If you don’t talk it, employment will talk about you.”
Nike said though it was not the business of government to create jobs, the major focus of his administration was to create the enabling environment for job creation.
On the issue of security, he remarked, “just two days ago about 3,000 youths were engaged by the state by Neighbourhood and Safety Corps, that to us is key in improving security and creating jobs for our people.”
The governor charged participants and organizers of the forum to ensure that the outcome of the event yield fruits, insisting that it should go beyond talk to action.
He suggested that action programme on employment generation should cover both gradates and retired personnel so that no group is left to waste in the labour market.