BENIN CITY – In fulfillment of the electioneering campaign of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu to create employment for 200,000 jobs for youths in the state within the first four years in office, Edo State Government has called on youths to commence registration for the process of employment.
Speaking at the women empowerment programme organized by the member representing Akoko Edo Constituency II in the state House of Assembly, Hon Emmanuel Agbaje at Igarra, Thursday, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu said the state government is poised to fulfill the electioneering promises and has therefore commenced the process of registration of youths for employment.
He said, “Edo State Government under the able leadership of my boss, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, we have decided in line with our electioneering promises, the promise we made before election, that we would create about 200, 000 jobs, that we have started it. The youths consist of both young men and young women who do not have jobs. Those who have graduated from school, those who have completed secondary education but could not continue, those who learned different trades and have acquired technical skills, we need all their names. Those who have no jobs should submit their names to their ward chairmen who would in turn submit the names to the Honourable member representing you in the House of Assembly, and the Honourable member will hand the names over to me, and I will give the names to the Governor. By the grace of God, this is the beginning of the creation of 200,000 jobs. “This is the era of teaching people how to fish, how to work and not teaching how to give you fish. The Governor has said I should tell the youths to drop their names with their ward chairmen or if it is the women leaders they see. What is important is that they drop their names and phone numbers. We will get that data and you will hear from us. When the time comes, we will call you directly for the jobs. Please tell all our boys and all our girls who are ready to work.”
Rt. Hon Shaibu said the people should continue to pray for the government, “The Governor needs your prayers; we need your prayers to succeed because without prayers, all those good things we want to do will not be possible. I want to assure you that the good work former Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done, the foundation that he has laid, we have already started building on it. By the grace of God, we will take Edo State to the next level.”
The Deputy Governor commended Hon. Agbaje for his initiative, “What the Honourable has done today indicates that he is has given you a hook to fish. When you fish, you will sell the fish and make money, and when you make money, you won’t have to beg anyone for money.”
Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu said, “Akoko Edo, are you not blessed? We have appointed only four, and out of that four, two are from Akoko Edo. So, are you not blessed?”
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Deputy Governor said, “The Honourable has given you money to trade because he wants life to be better for you. This is a seed which can only grow if you plant it. This money is not meant for you to buy rice for Christmas. They said you should use the money to do business. If you use the money to do business as a seed, the seed will grow. So, I plead with you to sow this seed into your business so that it will grow, and by the grace of God it will grow. Our number one citizen, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria will not import rice again, and we won’t even import clothing materials again. The only way to sustain that self-sufficiency is through something like what the Honourable has done today.”
Speaking earlier, the donor and member representing Akoko Edo Constituency II in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Emmanuel Agbaje said he has come to help the women in line with his electioneering promises.
He said, “I have come up with this initiative in line with my campaign promises to create an opportunity for our women to be able to grow their small businesses which will provide support for the family as well as create wealth if diligently managed. In pursuit of the above, I have sourced and made available the sum of N2.5m to be granted to ten women from each of the five wards of Constituency II totaling 50 beneficiaries. Each beneficiary will be able to access the sum of N50,000.00 to be paid in ten months at equal installment, interest free.”
According to Hon Agbaje, “The present reality of our economic lives today calls for the philosophy of self-help which I considered as essential bedrock of our survival, both as an individual and as nation.”
Hon Emmanuel Agbaje also reel out the several constituency projects he has executed for the people in his constituency.
He conveyed his best wishes to Governor Godwin Obaseki, “Kindly also convey our total support and best wishes to the new Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. May you continue to take Edo to the next level.”
Among those present at the ceremony are the Chief of Staff, Edo State Governrment Mr. Taiwo Akerele, member representing Akoko Edo Constituency I, Chief Adjoto Kabiru, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. John Mayaki, and traditional rulers across Akoko Edo local government area.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of empowerment cheques by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu to the 50 beneficiaries.
