Ondo intensifies job creation efforts


The Ondo State Government has intensified its efforts at creating job opportunities by promising to employ more than 10,000 graduates.


This commitment was made by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday, in a speech to open the training programme on information, communication and technology and renewable energy organised by Tech Ville Limited, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.


The programme was titled, ”Techville 2010,” a six-week intensive capacity development workshop funded by the state government.


He said the government had already employed more than 4,000 youths in various sectors in the last 15 months.


Mimiko added that the next few weeks, the government would commence the employment of unemployed graduates in the state.
Mimiko further disclosed that the government would establish a technology village to serve as a permanent site for youths in ICT and renewable energy with a view to transforming the state to Nigeria’s Silicon Valley.


”The training programme epitomises our administration‘s resolve to make Ondo State an ICT hub in Nigeria, thereby creating opportunities for youth engagement.


”This training will be the first in the series of efforts aimed at reducing graduate unemployment.


”This programme is unique because it is specially designed to inculcate the spirit of self reliance in the trainees. It will also equip them not only for self sustenance, but also make them employers of labour in the ever-expanding ICT world.”


He also said that at the end of the six weeks, the trainees would acquire new skills in two areas of software programming and renewable energy system.


The Managing Director, Tech Ville, Prof. Olurinde Lafe, said, ”It is targeted at mostly young and unemployed graduates of the state in the fundamentals of software engineering and renewable energy system.”

He said that Tech Ville was a job creation engine because at the end of the workshop, the best participants would be invited to be part of the development of TechVille, the technology-themed modern city being built in the outskirt of Ondo town.

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