Industrialist tasks govt on agric, solid minerals development

Managing Director, West African Ceramics Ltd., Ajaokuta, Kogi, Mr Barska Rao has called on government at all levels in the country to invest  in  agriculture and solid minerals sectors in order to create wealth and  employment for  youths.

Rao gave the advice on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from Kogi Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on facility tour of the company as part of activities marking the 2019 Press Week being organised by the council

He said the country was blessed with huge solid mineral deposits and vast arable land for agriculture, which could be exploited and developed to create employment opportunities and wealth.

Rao said the problem of insurgency was due to high rate of unemployment among youths and widespread poverty among the people.

The industrialist urged the federal, state and local governments to make deliberate efforts to develop the sectors to get youths engaged and divert their attention from crimes.

Rao noted that the deliberate efforts made by his company to provide employment for youths in its host community had led to  great reduction in kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices among youths of the area.

“Out of 1,500 workers in our company, 1,300 are from Kogi state with majority of them youths. This has reduced crime among youths and given us a safe environment to operate,’’ Rao said.

He stated that the company had concluded arrangements to establish a technical training centre where youths will undergo skill trainings in plumping, electrical and electronics as well as bricklaying, among others.

He said that the move is to further help the country to equip some of her youths who have become idle as a result of lack of employment, with skills that will make them self- employed.

Rao stated  that the company had also contributed to the growth of the country’s economy by sourcing 95 per cent of its raw materials locally.

He said the company, which is into production of Royal brand of ceramic tiles, marble and granite, had also helped in bringing down the costs of building materials in the country.

He appealed to construction companies, developers and individuals to patronise made-in-Nigeria tiles, marbles and granite which were much stronger, durable, cheaper and environmental friendly than the imported ones.

In his response, Mr Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh, chairman of the state NUJ, commended the owners of the company for their strong love for Nigeria by investing billions of Naira in her economy.

He said the visit was organised as part of activities marking the 2019 press week of the union, urging the company not to relent in its efforts to provide jobs for youths in its host community.

Leave a Reply