News: FG Seeks Private Sector Intervention in Job Creation

About 40 young Nigerian entrepreneurs have been enlisted for a six-month mentorship placement in which they will undergo training under some technical experts across different disciplines.

The Minister of Youth Development and former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna, at an event organised under the auspices of "Mara Mentor One-on-One" in Abuja, called on the private sector to reduce pressure on the government by creating employment opportunities.

He said, "This is a very brilliant initiative; we have seen committed Nigerians giving their services for the younger generation to grow and I am more excited at the commitment of the mentors to tutoring and mentoring theses younger ones. I think that Nigeria will be better off with this exercise.

"As you know, government cannot provide job to everybody and that is why government is partnering with organsations like Mara Mentors so that pressure can be taken off the government. Employment is better driven by the private sector and that is what we are doing and that is what we are encouraging.

"That is a global practice. The private sector should drive employment through opportunities like what Mara Mentors is trying to promote. The Mara Mentor programme is a project designed to enhance entrepreneurship education, capacity building and mentorship for the young Nigerian entrepreneur.”

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has played an active role in supporting the progress of the entrepreneurial initiative.

Source: Punch