Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Gender Issues, Hon. Andrew Adaze Emwanta Esq. JP has said that the indifference of the Federal Government to the twin problems of Youth Unemployment and National Security are time bomb.
The Commissioner who made this observation during a lecture delivered at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria Study of Edo State noted that not engaging the youths constructively is a criminal act.
Speaking on the theme of a lecture, “ Youth Unemployment and National Security”, held at the Festival Hall of Government house, Benin City, Hon Emwanta said the state of unemployment create environment for vices to strive and make young people to be involve in crime.
According to him, “ the challenges of National Security is Corruption and the indifferent attitude of those who make laws and some security agents who compromise with criminals”.
The Commissioner noted that there is a relationship between problem of Youth Unemployment and problem of insecurity in Nigeria and he suggested that options should be created by other states in the country to engage the youths constructively.
Emwanta disclosed that in Edo state, spirited efforts have been made by the government to address unemployment, especially among youths and insecurity by adopting effective community policing in the state with the Public works Volunteers and constabularies.
“In 2016, when my boss, the Executive Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki came into office he made a promise to create 200, 000 jobs and in 2020 when we came for re- election, the argument was how did he create the jobs because Edo was regarded as a civil service state.
“When the Governor talked of creating employment, People are thinking of civil service and public service jobs. But the government created the environment for people to be gainfully employed by even creating their own businesses as well.
“First, the Production Center was created and as you will agree with me, without power, industries cannot operate. Initially, there was the Azura power plant and the Governor did a bulk purchase to ensure direct access from the Azura plant for 24 hours power supply to the production center.
“But today, the government has a Memorandum of Understanding with a power company to have our state independent power plant at Ossiomo, from where we power the street lights and government buildings, including the government house and Tech Parks scattered around the state.
“There is the Victor Uwaifo creative Hub where people come to produce movies and most of our youths now have the option of going into technology. There is also the Edo Innovate and Edojobs providing skills for the youths. The idea is that the future is about technology and technology is the future.” he added.
The Commissioner who explained that the governor has decided to create skill acquisition and job centers across the three senatorial districts of the state advised that if other states in Nigeria can create options apart from government jobs like in Edo state which is one of the safest place in Nigeria, the issue of unemployment and insecurity would be addressed.
The Team leader of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria Study Tour to Edo State, Col. Eromosele Lawani thanked the Edo State Government for the efforts made to tackle unemployment and insecurity in the state, adding that they can now appreciate the contribution of the governor after the lecture.
