In a bid to reduce unemployment rate in Nigeria, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki is creating 40, 000 jobs, TheBrief learnt on Monday.
Through his “Saraki Employment and Empowerment Centre (SEEC),” beneficiares drawn from Kwara State and non-indigene from Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Delta and Kogi, would enjoy Saraki’s gesture.
The programme is tagged “Skill acquisition, Training and Empowerment Programme (S.T.E.P).”
Consequently, Saraki will be inaugurating the first batch of 250 beneficiaries of the programme on Saturday, 12th November, 2016 at the Kwara State Banquet Hall, Ilorin.
At the inauguration, former Minister of Youths and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who is the Guest Speaker will deliver a paper titled “WHERE ARE THE JOBS?”
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, STEP’s Managing Consultant, Nasir Abdulqadir said
“The S.T.E.P is a brainchild of Senator Saraki that is aimed at training and empowering young and motivated Kwara indigenes with advanced skills in computer engineering, software development, animation, mechatronics engineering, cinematography, event management, interior decorations, catering services, etc.
“The goal of the Senate President is to directly train over 40,000 youths from within and outside of Kwara State in skills that can make them compete favourably with their counterparts all over the world. With 40,000 youths trained in the next four years under the S.T.E.P programme, we believe the multiplier effects will be huge; it will have direct significant impacts on job creation and economic growth of Kwara State in particular and Nigeria in general.
“It is in furtherance of this goal that the Senate President will be inaugurating the first batch of 250 beneficiaries of the programme on Saturday, 12th November, 2016 at the Kwara State Banquet Hall, Ilorin.
“The journey to this inauguration started more than four months ago when the Senate President, apparently perplexed by the grim rates of unemployment in Nigeria, shared his grand vision with consultants and development partners. From this level, applications were invited and taken free of charge from Kwara youths from across the sixteen Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
“At the end of this exercise, over 10,000 applications were received! It was from this pool that the first batch of the beneficiaries was shortlisted, after a rigorous interview and screening processes that spanned three weeks and were conducted in the presence of independent observers and other development partners.
“Of this figure, 85% are Kwara indigenes, while the rest are non-indigenes from neighboring states of Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Delta and Kogi who are resident in Kwara State. The figure also has a 55:45 male-to-female ratio. Of this figure, some 5% were reserved for people living with varying degrees of disabilities. In the same vein, about 13% of the total figures are holders of masters degree, 47% are graduates with first degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND), while the rest have lower academic certifications.
“Already, all the successful applicants and their parents/guardians have been duly contacted.
“As mentioned earlier, on the 12th November, 2016, at the Kwara State Banguet Hall, the Senate President will be playing host to high calibre members of the public, including the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the Vice-Chancellors of Universities of Ilorin, Kwara State University, Al-Hikma university; the Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service; their royal highnesses, the Emir of Ilorin and Olofa of Offa, captains of industries, youths, students and women organisations and respected media men and women, to mention but a few.
“Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Minister of Youths and Sports will be the Guest Speaker. He will be speaking to the topic – WHERE ARE THE JOBS?”
