Confront massive unemployment to reduce youth restiveness , Ihejirika tells leaders.

 

 

Steve Unegbu, Umuahia

 

 

The former Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika(rtd) has called on  Nigeria leaders to confront massive unemployment among the youths  saying it is necessary and a way of mopping up  idle hands which is one of  major causes  of youth restiveness in the country.

 

General Ihejirika who made this call at Obayi town hall Ovim Isuikwuato LGA in Abia State during the unveiling of Ovim Economic project, said many youths are unemployed and dependent.

 

 

According to him,”I think the project we have in mind today which we are unveiling has capacity to employ youths in their  large numbers”.

 

He pointed out that, some of the programmes  stocked inside the project do not have long gestation period meaning that they will not take time for their benefits  to begin to manifest.

 

 

He however,frowned that despite all the  investments in Agriculture by the recent past government such as FADAMA, Anchor Borrower  programme among others, that Nigeria still depends so much  on importation of agricultural commodities,while  maintaining that much need to be done in agricultural development especially in modern system of agriculture in Nigeria and in the  south eastern region in particular.

 

He revealed that the  Ovim Economic Forum team has  employed the services of lots of experienced professionals who will come and train the youths as well as provide answers to all questions needed in modern system of farming.

 

In his speech, the Chairman of Ovim Economic Forum and  Senior Special Assistance to FCT minister on health and hospital management,Dr Ejike orji stated that the major driver of youth restiveness in Nigeria is population dynamics,added that  about 70% of the population is under the age of 30, meaning that we have a lot young people in the country who are not meeting their aspirations on daily basis.

 

He disclosed that according  to world Bank report 70% of Nigerian population are dependent, meaning that only 30% is independent and working to support those who are dependent, showing that there abject poverty in Nigeria.

 

 

Speaking further he opined that because most youths are not gainfully employed they become easy targets  for criminal, religious bigots, unscrupulous politicians to recruit, noting that “it is only when we reduce the population of unemployed youths that the issue of youth restiveness is going to stop.

 

 

” In Ovim community we are thinking and creating future for all ovumited to be gainfully employed and earn a living,take care of their families as well as their parents”

 

Earlier in his speech,the President General of Ovim community,Chief Egbe Godswill explained that he initiated ovim economy forum to bring remedy to unemployment  and create economic future for Ovim people.

 

 

 

In his words,”Right from the time of my campaign to become the president general of this community, I have a futuristic view of what to do and how to develop the economy of the community .So, I  started by focusing on what are the problems,where we are coming from, what do we need to do and the need to stabilize the community by looking at those things that we need to do now and to put together the community so as to attract people at the urban areas to come back so that their wealth will be harnessed by people in the village.

 

He said his major focus is for people living in the community and residents  to make enough legal economic corridors and to ensure enough businesses are going round the community which will make them make enough money as those in the urban area.

 

The climax of the event was the unveiling of Ovim Economic project.