By Goodluck Ikiebe.
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KONGA to empower the Nigerian youths through the exploration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to build their capacity towards self-reliance and employability.
Government said it was part of its avowed determination to continue to harness youth potentialities for improved socio-economic growth and development in the country,
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare at the signing ceremony in his office at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, reiterated that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration “is fully determined to lifting the lives of teeming Nigerian youths through various initiatives such as e-commerce as well as small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
He noted that the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economies of States, was expected to provoke the thinking of various governments towards harnessing youth potential, to checkmate unemployment, youth restiveness and other social vices.
He added that it was in line with this, that his Ministry entered into partnership with KONGA, a leading world e-commerce industry, not only in Nigeria but the continent of Africa, to ensure the upliftment of the lives of its youths.
Dare said: ‘No nation solves unemployment without leading on entrepreneurship; this MoU will open another window through which our youths can explore for more sustainability.
“The agreement will strengthen and support Federal Government’s deliberate policies of engaging the youth through various initiatives towards providing solution to the burden of youth unemployment and placing them in the path of entrepreneurship.”
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Nebeolisa Anako, thanked KONGA for synergising and identifying with the Ministry.
He assured that the Ministry would continue to provide an environment that would enable full implementation of the various policies and programmes of government,in line with the policy thrust of the present administration in the country.
Contributing, the President of the KONGA Group, Mr. Leo Stan Eke, said the MOU was expected to change the narrative by providing the youth with a platform to take bold step for self-development.
He assured that a minimum of 500, 000 youth would benefit from the programme. “They will be trained in Digital Technology, with the long term aim of wealth creation through E-Commerce system “, Mr. Eke added.
