A non governmental organization (NGO), has attributed lack of deliberate policy to address the economic challenges as the reason why the rate of unemployment in Niger State which is 38.80 per cent is higher than the national average of unemployment.
Making this known, the Policy Advisor, German Corporation (GIZ-SEDIN), Abubakar Ahmad Gwada called for more business opportunities for women and the vulnerable in the state.
Gwada made this disclosure at a one-day Public-Private Dialogue on Addressing the Challenges of Unemployment in Niger State organized by the State’s Ministry of Youths and Sports in collaboration with the Office of the Coordinator, Niger State Job Creation, Trade and Skills Promotion, and National Youth Council of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter.
He attributed the level of unemployment to “Slow economic growth, lack of deliberate policy to address the challenges, unfavourable business environment for investors, MSMEs, Poor infrastructure, Covid-19 and Insecurity.
He said further that “at the national level, he said at the last quarter of 2020, unemployment rate rose to 33.3% from 27.1% while underemployment rate declined from 28.6% to 22.8%.
“In Niger state, the last quarter of 2020, a total working-age population of 3,294,105 with a little over half (about 1,716,829) in the labour force
Unemployment rate is 38.80% (about 666,164) – higher than the national average Underemployment rate is 23.44%.”
Other speakers at the event advocated the establishment of a focal agency that would handle job creation in the state.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane who was represented by the Coordinator, Niger State Job Centre, Usman Magaji, said the state government had partnered with different non-governmental organisations towards engaging youths in learning various skills that would make them self-reliant.
