EU ambassador advises FG on sufficient job creation

The European Union ambassador to Nigeria, Karlsen Ketil, has advised the Federal Government on how to create more jobs for its citizens.

Ketil on Friday at the inauguration of the Nigeria Competitiveness Project (NICOP) in Abuja, said sufficient jobs can be created for the citizens if the government focuses on the production of local goods instead of sending raw materials abroad and importing the finished products.

Ketil added that the EU’s support for the development of MSMEs in Nigeria became pertinent due to population growth and the alarming rise in unemployment in the country.

He also maintained that the union in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ ) in support of NICOP earmarked about 10 million euros for MSMEs development.

“There is no better way to create jobs in Nigeria than to produce our own goods, this is better than sending raw materials abroad and importing the finished products,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enalamah, at the inauguration assured on federal government’s obligation to the realization of Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

He said the government was poised to realize the NIRP through its commitment to the development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

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The minister who was represented by the ministry Permanent Secretary, Mr Edet Akpan, said there would be more concentration on the MSMEs to diversify the economy.

He said the project sponsored by the European Union (EU) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), would complement other government initiatives.

“Nigeria is endowed with human and natural resources, and for the country to attain its full potential, we cannot afford to ignore the MSMEs and their contribution to the economy.

“As a developing nation, we are making an effort to transform the economy by initiating programmes and policies that will help improve the standard of living,” he said.

The minister also said that the government was working hard to promote social and political stability especially with the ongoing programmes on economic diversification.

Hans-Ludwig Bruns, Economic Development Cluster Coordinator of GIZ-Nigeria said that NICOP was a four-year project commissioned by the German government and co-funded by the EU.

“NICOP will assist MSMEs to add value to and migrate towards new and higher level tasks along selected value chain such as tomato, pepper, chilli, ginger, leather and garments. “It is also aimed at promoting structural transformation, overcoming coordination and linkage failures as well as improving access to the regional and international market,” he said.

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