NDE, NECA raise panel on skills development, job creation

THE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) have empanelled a committee to begin the exploration of avenues for the development of skills centres to drive employment creation.
A statement by the Head, Information and Public Relations of NDE, Mr. Nnamdi   Asomugha in Abuja said the four-man committee is expected to explore options on development of skills for unemployed youths and come up with strategies to ensure a collaborative implementation by both NDE and NECA.
This resolution was made following a meeting in Lagos between the Director-General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed and his NECA counterpart, Mr. Segun Oshinowo.
Mohammed was in Lagos as part of his nationwide dialogue with the organised private sector on ways to train unemployed youths in vocational skills as well as put them to gainful employment after skills acquisition.
The NDE chief executive told the NECA boss that the Directorate would consult with other stakeholders to explore the possibility of establishing centres for training of unskilled jobless youths in the construction industry similar to a model in Turkey. He said that some NDE field operator officers who visited Turkey on a study tour recently had recommended the beneficial effect of establishing such skills centres for specific industries such as construction and textiles for job creation initiatives.
The NDE chief said the NDE shall soon be convening a meeting of stakeholders in skills acquisition and employment generation to strengthen collaboration and synergy.
In his remarks, the NECA director-general commended Mohammed for the passion he has brought to bear on the issue of job creation in the country.
Oshinowo said that the NECA is committed to generation of jobs to confront mass employment in the country in spite of the challenges facing its members.
He said: “Despite the problem of harsh investment environment and low capacity level of operations by industries in Nigeria, we remain determined to open our doors to collaboration in the area of skills acquisition and employment creation.”
He consequently called on the NDE to champion short and medium term skills development and capacity building to promote mass employment.
NECA is the umbrella organisation of employers in the organised private sector of Nigeria. It was formed in 1957 to provide the forum for government to consult with private sector employers on socio-economic and labour policy issues.
It also provides a platform for private sector employers to interact with the government, labour, communities and other relevant institutions in and outside Nigeria for the purpose of promoting harmonious business environment that will engender productivity and prosperity for the overall benefit of the Nigerian economy.