BY Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN-FORMER Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), has decried what he described as the alarming rate of unemployment in the country, saying it was a major challenge facing the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Danjuma pointed out that unemployment impedes development, and stressed the need for government at all levels, individuals and corporate organisations to make the issue of employment a priority.

He spoke in Benin City, Edo State, Wednesday, at the graduation ceremony of youths trained under the Work-place Intelligent Nigerian Graduates Scheme, WINGS, sponsored by the TY Danjuma Foundation.

He said: “I am happy to see the result of these grants. Youth unemploy-ment is by far one of the most serious challenges that our nation faces today. So any effort and contribution, no matter how little, that any individual or group of individuals can make towards reducing youths unemployment is an effort well spent.

“We will continue to give assistance to you, to your organisations and if there is anything that we ought to do that we are not doing, let us know.”

Danjuma further urged other stakeholders to join hands in the fight against what he described as the scourge of youths unemploy-ment, and add value to the country’s socio-economic growth.

Executive Director of Afterschool Graduates Development Centre, Mrs. Detoun Ogwo, said the event was designed to appraise and show-case the WINGS projects of the foundation which, she said, had touched the lives of 140 graduates.