By Adeola Tukuru
Abuja
President of Graduate Foundation (GRAFO), Mr. Emmanuel Eche-Ofun John, has urged governments at all levels to provide enabling environment and basic amenities for businesses to grow.
The GRAFO President who said this at the Second Edition of jobs providers awards, held in Abuja recently added that banks should provide Young Entrepreneurs with loans at little or no interest rates to grow their businesses.
He also called on tertiary institutions to teach and encourage Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship so that young school leavers will not idle away after school by waiting for non-available white-collar jobs.
“Government jobs should be thrown open to all Nigerians, and not reserved only for the children and friends of those on the corridors of power.
“Our unemployed youths must be ready to become job providers through skill acquisition and entrepreneurship, and not job seekers.
“In Nigeria, nearly half of the entire working population is unemployed and under employed. Studies show that a little over 10 per cent of young school leavers entering the labor market annually actually secure jobs.”
According to him, if the trend of rising level of unemployment continues it would spell doom for the country “hence the birth of the Foundation to fight the tetra-headed monster that has been ravaging Nigerian youths.”
“When we registered the Foundation, our intention was to adequately empower a minimum of 10,000 youths annually,” he further said.
He also congratulated the Winners of the 2017 Jobs Providers Awards, may they do much more in the years to come. We at GRAFO are committed to the fight against unemployment, and with your support and encouragement, we will not rest on our oars until the battle is won.
