Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says investment by private sector in entrepreneurship will enhance the potential of the teeming Nigerian youths to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Ngige lauded Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) for taking the lead in promoting entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths through its Youth Empowered Initiative.
The minister made this known during the three-day Youth Empowered Workshop in Abuja sponsored by NBC, where over 500 youths were trained on life and business skills.
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The minister, who was represented by Martina Nwordu, director of special duties/projects in the ministry, described the initiative as laudable, affirming that such a platform would greatly ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in Nigerian youths.
The NBC Youth Empowered workshop is part of the CocaCola Hellenic global initiative designed to support over 1,000,000 young people globally between ages 18 and 30 by 2025, to build life and business skills and long-lasting networks that will enable them transit to meaningful employment.
The minister, who urged participants to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the company, disclosed that the Federal Government remained committed to solving unemployment challenges in the country.
“I am very happy that you all chose to be here today, to empower yourselves and I want to reassure you all that the Ministry of Labour is totally committed to addressing the challenges of unemployment and underemployment confronting the youths of this country,” she said.
Ekuma Eze, public affairs and communications director, NBC, in his welcome remarks, said the initiative was developed to help young people achieve their career ambitions by supporting them with relevant skills and right information they need to transit to meaningful employment as well as enhancing their potentials to be self-employed or job creators.
