I Took Risks To Create 157,000 Jobs In Edo —Gov Obaseki

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Godwin Obaseki on Monday said he took a great risk to create 157,000 jobs for Edo youths in the last three years even when many people doubted his ability to do so.

Obaseki, who spoke at the ongoing Alaghodaro 2019 Youth Summit said the jobs were created through job tracking for organisations, job-matching and placements, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship and Edo Innovates programme.

He explained that he built the job creation programme around six key areas such as the people, education, sport, and arts and culture.

The event saw 150 youths empowered with engineering starter packs after undergoing training.

Over 2000 youths participated in the programme and were linked with jobs in some organisations present at the event.

On education, Governor Obaseki stated that by the next academic session, he would establish 300 stand-alone Junior Secondary School where vocational training would be offered.

Governor Obaseki said any student that passed through the schools would have learnt a skill or a vocation that would enable them to earn a living.

His words, “By the time they are graduating from JSS, the children must have learnt a handcraft because they will be fundamental training at the schools.

“We want to change the mindset that education is not about certificate. That is why we introduced Edo jobs to help the youths retrace their steps.

“We are mapping out our economy. We are looking at the future through our 30-year development plan.

“Our independent power supply would soon be available to power the street lights and production centres.”