PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja said that the social investment programme of his administration has succeeded in lifting over five million Nigerians out of extreme poverty.
The President also said that the administration within the period has created over two million direct and indirect jobs.
Represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the Global Youth Employment Forum taking place in Abuja, Buhari said key components of the National Social Investment Programme, including the N-Power programme has led to the creation of job opportunities in different sectors of the Nigerian economy for young persons.
According to him, the Nigerian government recognises the need to focus attention on youth empowerment by creating an enabling environment for job opportunities and capacity building.
He said his administration decided to make investment in its people through the Economic recovery and Growth Plan which he said was the national development Blueprint adding that there was the need to meaningfully engage with the huge global youth population and abundant skills they possess.
He acknowledged the International Labour Organization (ILO) as Nigeria’s important ally in the promotion of Decent Work and Social Dialogue saying “The immense support and assistance received from our partner United Nations (UN) agencies, notably the ILO in the areas of Policy Reviews, Institutional Strengthening; Human Capacity Development. Implementation of dedicated Programs and Technical/Financial support cannot be over-emphasized”.
“The International Labour Organization has committed itself to youth employment and the future of work in Africa, with in-depth understanding of the rapidly changing demographics, the emerging world of work and the challenges of national economic stabilities. “Nigeria places much value on her youth, who represent today and the future of our nation and we are glad that this event is bringing together selected young people from member States of the ILO from different continents to discuss an issue that is of critical importance to both the young and old which is the creation of decent job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth.
The President noted that the issue of youth unemployment has assumed global significance and on the front burner of developmental discuss and it was for this reason that Government of Nigeria is focusing attention on youth empowerment by creating the enabling environment for job opportunities and capacity building.
“In this connection, the present administration, from the onset, made the Investment in our People one of the key goals of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which is the National Development Blueprint, for the period 2017 to 2020. “The implementation of the plan through some flagship programs such as the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) has yielded some measurable outcomes in the form of increased school enrolment and creation of more jobs.
The Global Youth Employment which is a creation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is holding outside Geneva, Switzerland for the first time since it started.