By Omoregie Elvis, Benin
A human rights activist and President, Foundation for Good Governance
and Social Change, Barr. Austine Osakue, yesterday, tasked the
National Directorate of Employment, NDE to partner other relevant
agencies in job creation to reduce unemployment in the country.
He gave the charge at the skill acquisition graduation ceremony of
Ehimax trading enterprise(ETE) manufacturer’s of Mine Kitchen Liquid
Dish Wash in collaboration with National Directorate of Employment
(NDE), Edo State office.
Osakue said Nigerians are aware that most of the federal government
agencies are starved financially by the same body which sets them up
and this by implication hampers their efficacies.
“I knew that federal government agencies are suffering I can tell you
that. There was a time that I accused the National Orientation Agency
of not doing enough to enlighten our people, to get involved in
disseminating of information in propagating good courses.
“And I had mentioned it three times, i am sure the seat there became
so very hot. So, they invited me for a discussion and I went with
some of my people to engage them. And when they finished telling me
their story, we felt pitied for them. First and foremost, for the
period of about two hours we spent there, we were all sweating.
“They could not even afford to power their generator to put on the
fans. The offices, some of the chairs were fallen. So we understand
that the NDE would want to do so much but there is a limited
resources.
” What you need to do madam, is to now build bridges of collaboration.
There are places you cannot reach because you are a government person
but partner with those who can say such things. There are so much
resources on our land for God has blessed us so much. We should not be
begging in the midst of so much abundance”, he said.
State Coordinator, NDE, Mrs. Ayo Adegbai while commending the
graduating students, said micro economy is what drives the present day
economic.
She urged them to look at for the areas they are good at and make out
the best in their chosen career.
On the part of Prof. Iyesere Julius, lecturer of Industrial Chemistry,
University of Benin, he advised the youth to take advantage of the
population strength of the country to engage in production of goods
and services that will be of financial benefit to them.
Proprietor, Ehimax trading enterprise, Mr. Iyamu Maxwell while given
his reason for setting up the skill acquisition centre, said it was to
reduce unemployment in the country.