By Obioma C. Appolos
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Alo, has called for United States of America’s assistance in tackling unemployment challenges bedeviling Nigeria, saying that Nigeria is in need of great assistance.
Mr. Alo, who said this in Abuja when he received a delegation from the U.S. Department of Labor, led by Kurt A. Petermeyer, the Regional Administrator, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, stated that assistance from the U. S. to upgrade the skill acquisition centres in the country would be of immense benefit to Nigeria, as it would enhance job creation.
Listing such crimes as child labour, forced labour and other ills as fallouts of unemployment, he noted that the repositioning of the Skills Acquisition Centres in the country would create more employment opportunities for the unemployed youths and others.
While he acknowledged the U. S. as a long-standing dependable partner to Nigeria, he expressed assurance that U.S’ intervention would help to reduce the crime rate among the youths, as many of them would get off the crime track when employed.
He also noted that the visit was a follow-up to an earlier visit where Nigeria had sought assistance from the U.S. on the upgrading of the country’s Skill Acquisition Centres and on other areas that would help in reducing unemployment in the country.
Speaking earlier, the Regional Administrator, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Kurt A. Petermeyer, said the group was on skills and facilities assessment visit to determine areas of possible assistance to Nigeria.
