Ogun State Government is working in synergy with a foreign partner to organise an Employment Conference that will help its unemployed youths and residents to optimally harness the clusters of industries in the State for gainful employment.
The Employment Conference, the first of its kind in the state is scheduled to hold in Abeokuta between September 6 and 7, 2023 in synergy with the German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola made this known in Abeokuta at the courtesy visits by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Conference made respectively to the State Head of Service, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun, Special Advisers to the Governor on Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu and the Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo.
Aikulola, who doubles as the Chairman of the LOC noted that the Conference which would bring together critical stakeholders would also address the existing mismatch of the high rate of unemployed youths.
He assured that the event would be specific and recommend realistic and actionable steps, which would help take advantage of the State's potential, as well as address unemployment.
Also speaking, State Coordinator/Policy Advisor, GIZ, Mr. Steven Dada also a member of the LOC, said the Conference was planned to follow up and build on the gains of the Employment Conference held nationally, adding that the programme would fashion out ways which would help unemployed youths to be gainfully employed and make the State an exporter of labour.
Speaking, Mr. Fagbohun said it is time for critical stakeholders to pay more attention to the challenge of unemployment to checkmate youth involvement in crime, calling on the GIZ to help establish schools on skill development for graduates which would help them sharpen their skills, in order to prepare them for gainful employment.
Contributing, Mr. Olabimtan said the government's main role in addressing unemployment is to create an enabling environment for businesses to start and thrive so as to adequately employ labour, advising the Committee to ensure actionable recommendations which could be embedded into the State Medium Term Strategy and Economic agenda of the government.
In his remark, Prof. Arigbabu stated that emphasis should be on the vocational skill development of students alongside any academic pursuit, just as it is currently implemented at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode.
On his part, Mr. Okubadejo called for curriculum development to help prepare graduates for entrepreneurship, while also improving on Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) and quality standardisation, which would help certify experts, adding that the State was in the process of formalising its Enterprise Development Agency (EDA), to help improve the capacity of graduates to start their businesses.
Okubadejo, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, emphasised the need for educational institutions to prioritise entrepreneurship education and equip students with the necessary skills and mindset to reduce unemployment and help them excel in the ever-evolving job market.
He highlighted the significance of empowering students to leverage on technology and explore diverse opportunities, saying the need for a curriculum that fosters entrepreneurial thinking and includes technical vocational training would enable individuals to pursue independent careers and create employment opportunities for others, thereby boosting the economy.
According to him, ‘’relying solely on a white-collar job is insufficient to address the high unemployment levels in the country, hence the need for shifting towards a mindset of wealth creation through entrepreneurial endeavours by equipping individuals with the required skills, knowledge, mindset and economic growth can be stimulated and job opportunities can be provided’’.
Other personalities in attendance were the Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Finance, Mr. Adesina Towolawi and Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr. Jola Oyeleye respectively, State Advisor and Policy Coordinator, GIZ, Mr. Stephen Dada, President Ogun State Cooperative Federation Limited, Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye, among others.
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