Obaseki lauds FG on self sustainable initiatives

By EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY, Benin

EDO state Government on Thursday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s self-sufficiency initiative on local production and consumption of goods.

The state government’s commendation arose from the recent federal government’s pronouncement on the ban of importation of rice and clothing materials as part of its efforts to encourage self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship and small and medium scale businesses.

Edo state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, made the commendation at the women empowerment programme organized by the member representing Akoko Edo Constituency II in the state House of Assembly, Hon Emmanuel Agbaje, on Thursday in Igarra.

Shaibu, who at the occasion, reiterated that Gov. Godwin Obaseki would never renege on his electioneering promises, disclosed that plans had been concluded to commence the process of registration of youths for employment.

He said, “Edo State Government under the able leadership of my boss, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, have decided in line with our electioneering promises, before election, that we would create about 200, 000 jobs.

“The youths consist of both young men and young women who do not have jobs. Those who have graduated from school, those who have completed secondary education but could not continue with their education.

“Those who learned different trades and have acquired technical skills, we need all their names.

“Those who have no jobs should submit their names to their ward chairmen who would in turn submit the names to the Honourable member representing you in the House of Assembly.

“The member will hand the names over to me, and I will give the names to the Governor. By the grace of God, this is the beginning of the creation of 200,000 jobs.

“This is the era of teaching people how to fish, how to work and not teaching how to give you fish.

“The Governor has said I should tell the youths to drop their names with their ward chairmen or if it is the women leaders they see.

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“What is important is that they drop their names and phone numbers. We will get that data and you will hear from us.

“When the time comes, we will call you directly for the jobs. Please tell all our boys and all our girls who are ready to work.”

The Deputy Governor said the people should continue to pray for the government, saying “the Governor needs your prayers.

“We need your prayers to succeed because without prayers, all those good things we want to do will not be possible.

“I want to assure you that the good work former Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done, the foundation that he has laid, we have already started building on it.

“By the grace of God, we will take Edo State to the next level.”

Shaibu commended Hon. Agbaje for his initiative, saying that “what the Honourable has done today indicates that he has given you a hook to fish.