Minister makes case for indigenous engineers in ADB’s projects implementation

Mr James Ocholi, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, has called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to adopt local content policy in its project implementation activities in Nigeria by engaging indigenous engineers.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Samuel Olowookere, the Deputy Director (Press) in the ministry, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the minister made the call when a delegation of the bank led by its Country Director, Pitamber Sunita, visited him in Abuja.

Ocholi said in the statement that indigenous engineers had the requisite qualifications and competence to be engaged by the bank in the execution of its projects in the country.

This, the statement said, would boost the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s agenda of creating jobs for the unemployed youths in the country.

The statement said that Ocholi expressed the ministry’s readiness to partner with the bank to create job opportunities for both the unemployed and underemployed.

It explained that vocational skills and capacity building were critical areas where the AfDB could be of assistance to the country.

According to the statement, though the Buhari administration is working hard to fulfill its campaign promises to Nigerians on job creation and security, government alone cannot do it all.

The statement quoted the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Clement Illoh, as also seeking the bank’s support in poverty reduction, social inclusion and productivity enhancement, among other areas.

Earlier, Sunita said the visit was to find out the ministry’s plans, especially in the area of job creation, and the support needed in this regard.