The Ogun state government has said it is developing an outlet to tap into both local and global opportunities in order to create more jobs and provide better livelihoods for its residents.
While identifying unemployment as an urgent issue, Governor Dapo Abiodun stated that it must be addressed head-on in order to construct a bright and sustainable future for the state and the country at large.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, stated this at the opening of the Ogun State Employment Conference 2023 with the theme “Addressing Employment and Job Creation in Ogun State: Tapping into Local and Global Opportunities, held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library event centre, Abeokuta.
He revealed that the conference, which is a follow-up to the National Employment conference, will cover topics unique to Ogun State, the nation’s industrial centre, with its high youth population and large migrant population.
Gov. Abiodun emphasised that the conference was the beginning of a journey towards a more prosperous and inclusive Ogun State while reassuring that his administration is still committed to restructuring and repositioning the State to maintain its prime status as the nation’s commercial and industrial hub.
The conference, according to Chief Economic Adviser and Designated Commissioner Dapo Okubadejo, became essential at this time because of the global supply chain disruption and inflation issue, which have resulted in enormous layoffs by many businesses.
He thanked GIZ for their support and emphasized that the current administration places a high focus on employment and its importance to economic growth.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Betlef Barth, team leader of the SKYE project, explained that the conference was created with specific goals in mind: to create positive change in terms of job creation, to foster comprehensive dynamic employment in Ogun State, to propose policies that would bring about employment, and to understand the role of the informal sector.
Dr. Olu Ola Aikulola, Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated in his welcome address that the theme of the conference should be regarded as a wakeup call to various stakeholders, including relevant political groups and the organised private sector.
He stated that the unemployment rate is becoming quite concerning, pushing informal youth groups, businesses, and others to take advantage of every available opportunity.
