BY DAYO ADESULU

As technical colleges churn out graduates every year, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has allayed fears of graduates about  jobs saying that plans are available to ensure they are self-employed.

Speaking during the flag-off of the first enterprise day held at the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association(NECA) House, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Fashola, who lamented that government cannot employ the over 6,000 graduates that produced yearly but  that the state has plan for them.

“What we have done is to position our economy to respond to your emergence. Government would also issue you contracts for the renovation and maintenance of public buildings in the state including schools, hospitals, maternal and childcare centres,  under the office of the State’s Facility Management.”

According to him, there was no difference between government and private skill acquisition centres, as government has oversight functions on all institutions to ensure that they meet the required minimum standards including the right tools and equipment for learning and right environment for the students.

“What is important is first to acquint you with skills, which is what the school is doing. If you are good, people who need your services will find you. Beyond that, we are already bringing the people who will need your services to you.”

He disclosed that gone were the days for white collar jobs adding that everybody should be proud of its means of livelihood.

“Maybe we should redefined employment and unemployment. I have heard people say ‘since I graduated, I have not gotten a job. You see what I do now is that I have seven taxis. I drive one myself and employ other six drivers.’ Is that person employed or unemployed? If the owner of the six taxis was working in a bank, will he accept to be an accountant in the bank or in his taxi company. He is complaining without realising that he has become an entrepreneur.

“Lagbaja is a graduate and also a musician. King Sunny Ade is employed and employed others. There is unemployment, I do not say there is not, but there is underemployment. There is also employments in areas where we do not believe exist. Those who have work, let them stand up and say I have found my own calling and let them move on. You find yours. It helps us achieve clarity on what the problem is that we need to solve.”

Meanwhile, the  Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry stated that unemployment is not peculiar to Nigeria as all over the world, most young people are unemployed.

According to him, the difference is that those economies we knew years ago have reached their peak of development. “The new frontier is Africa. The largest market in Africa is Nigeria. The biggest market in Nigeria is here in Lagos. So everything is ready except a few things we need to fix,” he said.

He pointed out that the administration of Governor Fashola has focused on policies and innovations that would make life more meaningful for the teeming Lagos population adding that the emergence of new skill, innovative and self-employed generation from the various technical colleges and vocational centres across the state would serve as a catalyst for the much desired economic prosperity of the State.