Chamber to partner govt on job creation

THE President, Uyo Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines andAgriculture [UYCCIMA], Dan Umoh said that the body is ready to key into government’s efforts at diversifying the state’s economy, to create employment and wealth for the people.

To achieve this, he called for assistance from government by providinggrants to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises as part of efforts togenerate employment in the state.

He made this call while speaking with journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital. According to him, such grants would be channeled to develop theagricultural sector with particular reference to fishing and poultryfarming, so as to encourage operators in the sector.

UYCCIMA President however lamented that, efforts to recover loans inthe past had posed a lot of challenges, adding that, giving grantswould help to grow economic activities and in the creation of wealth.

He however noted that, those who should be eligible for the grantsshould be members of the Organized Private Sector that belong to thechamber. “We should focus on fish farming, poultry and other agro-allied activities to encourage them to create jobs and stem the growing army of unemployed youths in the state”, he said.

Umoh, who lamented the absence of a security scheme for unemployed graduates in the country, suggested a national data base for graduates from institutions of higher learning which according to him would enable the Federal Government plan for their welfare.

According to him, unemployed graduates who are interested in going into entrepreneurship development should be encouraged with special grants and made to undergo training after which government should monitor the grants given to them.

Umoh also expressed dismay over the absence of a permanent trade fair complex in the state, noting that, such has affected the ability of the chamber to successfully organize and host trade fairs in the state.

He commended the state government for the move to establish and revamped ailing industries in the state as such would help in tackling unemployment and in changing the economic status of the state.

Umoh also expressed satisfaction with the marked improvement in public power supply in the state, adding that, without a regular power supply, it would be difficult for entrepreneurship to thrive.