GIS pledges to tackle graduate unemployment

THE Project Director of the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), Peter Papka, has said that the Federal Government’s initiative for skills acquisition training was aimed at finding solutions to youth unemployment especially for school graduates.

Speaking in Awka, during the orientation training organized by GIS for interns and firms’ representatives, Papka explained that the Federal Government’s funding of the scheme from regular budget clearly attest to the great prospect GIS has in facilitating the enhancement of graduates skills for self- employment.

Besides, he disclosed that about 25,186 graduates have been deployed for training, stressing that 68 per cent of the trainees were males, 31 per cent females, while one per cent were vulnerable persons.

He added that so far, about 9,387 have exited the scheme while over 1000 have secured jobs or started own businesses.

He further disclosed that about 13,781 firms across the country have registered to participate in the scheme while 305,780 graduates have already registered for the programme.

According to him, the GIS is contributing to the renewed growth of Small and Medium Enterprises and cooperative societies through increased competent and skilled manpower.

He noted, “The GIS has keyed into non-oil sectors with a view to developing capacity and skills required to complement the oil and gas sector of the economy. This initiative has culminated in partnership established with several government and non-governmental organizations.

“Memorandum of Understanding has been signed on export trade promotion, creative industries, financial inclusion, ICT as well as agriculture”.

While expressing confidence in the scheme boosting the SME sector of the country, Papka called for the institutionalisation of the scheme beyond 2015.