The Osun State governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, has assured the World Bank (WB) and other multinational donor agencies of his administration’s intervention in critical areas of socio-economic lives of the people.
The governor spoke at the flag off ceremony of a 3-month skill acquisition and entrepreneurship training organised by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), which was supported by WB under the auspices of the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO).
Represented by the Supervisor, Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Olalekan Yinusa, the governor promised not to shy away from the state responsibility in meeting the counterpart funds for the WB’s social intervention programmes.
He said his administration has resolved to use the intervention projects of WB to create employment, reduce poverty and promote sustainable livelihood for the people of the state.
He said that his administration is determined to combat the menace of youth unemployment.
He promised to engage the youths to channel their energies to productive ventures, which, according to him, will enhance local industrialisation and rural development in the state.
Commending the NDE for coordinating various federal government’s intervention projects, he promised to continue to provide enabling environment for all federal government agencies in the state.
The governor enjoined the 2,200 youths selected across the state to benefit from the training to make the best use of the opportunity, reminding them that white collar jobs are not readily available again.
Earlier, the Director-General of the NDE, Dr. Nasir Mohammed Ladan Argugu, who was represented by a senior official of the NDE, Mrs. Rosalyn Olaomi, disclosed that the skill-for-job component of YESSO kicked off in Osun early in the year with 500 participants.
According to the DG, the first cycle pilot training is now entering the 3rd cycle within a year, with close to 3,000 beneficiaries.