JOB creation is the notion that jobs are created in response to some sort of event or situation, for example; great depression – an economic slump (a period of poor performance or inactivity in an economy, market or industry, a recession, signaling a slowdown of business activity) or high level of unemployment.  Conceptually, job creation is the proactive opposite of unemployment.

In a practical sense, organisation or industry only hires more workers when necessary to satisfy demand for its products or services.  Therefore, industrial or manufacturing based organisations are very crucial in the State to achieve meaningful and sustainable job creation.   In the developing world, improved jobs and livelihoods are an indispensable means to eradicate poverty and establish a virtuous circle of expanding and inclusive economic growth.  Inclusive economic growth, if sustained over time, is the only way to tackle poverty across the State.  Destitution or absolute poverty is obvious in the State/Nation and it is caused by the deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes money, food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter and health care among others, and it can be reduced through meaningful and sustainable job creation.

As noted, sustainable development leads to sustainable job creation and it is a process for meeting human development goals while sustaining the ability of natural systems to continue to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depend.  Sustainable development is a process that envisions a desirable future state for human societies in which living conditions and resource use continue to meet human needs without undermining the integrity, stability and beauty of natural biotic.

Poverty eradication, productive employment and decent work for all, social integration and protection are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.  The enabling environment to promote this need to be created at all levels of Government in the State.  There are widespread deficits of available decent work opportunities and lack of labour market conditions and especially for young women and men in the State.  It is imperative for the State Government to address the challenges of youth employment by developing and implementing strategies and policies that provide young people in the State decent and productive work.

Persistent poverty, increasing income inequality and slow job growth – further exacerbated by financial and economic crises and climate change – are critical constraints on economic and social progress.  Promoting inclusive job-rich growth is a central challenge for all countries today.  With global unemployment at historically high levels due to population increase and the use of modern technology, there has never been a greater need to put employment at the centre of economic and social policies.  Even among those who work, the extent of poverty underscores the need for a far greater number of productive and decent jobs.  The effect of high rate of unemployment has been linked to armed robbery, kidnapping, pirating, vandalising pipelines and other social vices in the State.  Youths have to shun these illegal activities, which create instability.   Instability in any society has always been very dangerous to the economy and to the peace and stability of the society and Delta State will not be an exception.

The strategy for promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment includes but is not limited to the following: skills development policies to increase the employability of workers, the competitiveness of enterprises and the inclusiveness of growth, coordinated and coherent policies to generate inclusive job-rich growth, and policies and programmes to promote sustainable enterprises and entrepreneurship.  There is need to enhance employment and income opportunities for all, especially for women and men living in poverty and, in this regard, I support the State efforts to provide new job opportunities to the poor in both rural and urban areas, including support to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Tackling poverty through meaningful and sustainable job creation can be achieved in the State/Nation through the following; (1) individual efforts, (2) capacity building, (3) infrastructural development in which quality education and stable energy supply is a must (it should be noted that no stable electricity supply no meaningful job creation), (4) infrastructural maintenance programme, (5) provision of quality technical and vocational education, (6) provision of quality information and communication technology (ICT) education, (7) effective use of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), (8) manufacturing based economy in which stable energy supply is a must, (9) tourism business, (10) adequate funding (capital including microcredit schemes) and (11) efficient agricultural development system among others.  In addition, meaningful and sustainable job creation is affected by political stability, good governance, rule of law that is based on universal principles, government incentives, private enterprise, land reform, youth empowerment programmes and quality of labour force among others.  In addition, to create meaningful jobs in the State, Deltans should invest their resources in Delta State in order to accelerate sustainable social and economic developments of the State.  As the saying goes: we should put our money where our mouths are.

(1) Individual efforts are very crucial to meaningful job creation.  In this day and age, finding a job is increasingly difficult.  If you can’t find a job for yourself, why not create it, and create jobs for others. Success in individual efforts in creating job require business knowledge, good planning, hard work, smart ideas, funding or capital, self discipline, patience and luck among others.  Be persistent.

(2) Capacity Building: Capacity building is a process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organisations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in the fast-changing world.

It is an organization’s ability to achieve its mission effectively and to sustain itself over the long term. It is also refers to the skills and capabilities of individuals. It is person’s ability to define and realize his/her goals or to do his/her job more effectively. The State should encourage capacity building initiatives across organizations in the State for meaningful and sustainable job creation.

issue.  I’m convinced that proper and effective use of Direct Labor Agency for roads and streets maintenance will go a long way.

(5) Provision of technical and vocational education for meaningful and sustainable job creation is very crucial.  Although education is more important than ever, there are still a lot of jobs that require some technical training but not a college degree, such as paralegals, dental hygienists, welders, electricians, carpenters, hospitalities, and a variety of medical technicians among others.  Steering more students into vocational and technical schools at a younger age could generate more workers with skills that employers say they need.  As noted, a child with Quality Education has a better chance to succeed because knowledge is power.  The best gift to any child is good education.

(6) Development of quality Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education is the provision of e-learning spaces and training for teachers and students across the State.  “It is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communication and the integration of telecommunication (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information”. I strongly suggest that the State include ICT in schools’ curriculums. Promoting quality ICT education will translate to quality labor force and could promote outsourcing industry.

(7) Effective use of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to create meaningful jobs in the State is highly suggested.  FDI is a controlling ownership in a business enterprise in one country by an entity based in another country.  A foreign direct investment includes but is not limited mergers and acquisitions, building new facilities, reinvesting profits earned from overseas operations and intra company loans.  In a nut shell, foreign direct investment refers to building new facilities.  More and more countries are striving to create a favorable and enabling climate to attract FDI as a policy priority.  Attracting beneficial FDI and local direct investment (LDI) is critical for Delta State’s economic diversification and development as stated in the Delta State SMART agenda.  More incentive opportunities for FDI will translate to more meaningful and sustainable job creation for Deltans.  Effective management of FDI will promote wealth for the State, accelerate industrial and technology developments and enhance employment for Deltans.

(8) Manufacturing based economy is required for meaningful and sustainable job creation in the State.  Providing enabling environment for growth of local industry is a must and the power sector must and should be revived.  Without stable electricity supply local manufacturing becomes very expensive.  That is, without stable electricity supply it becomes cheaper to import goods from abroad than to produce them locally.  In other words, without stable electricity supply, there will be no meaningful and sustainable job creation.  We must promote made-in-Nigeria goods by buying made-in-Nigeria products.  Nigerian consumers also have a role to play to encourage local manufacturing of items that can easily be made here rather than rely so much on imports from China.  We should halt the inordinate desire for foreign products for which substitutes are available in Nigeria.  This will expand the market and create more jobs.  Nigerian producers must abide by the international standard of products as most of their products are low quality. Furthermore, promotion of cottage industries is crucial to meaningful and sustainable job creation for Deltans.

(9) The State Government should note that adequate funding and financing are key to business success.  One of the causes of business failure in the State/Nation is lack of capital for the indigenes.  The State Government should assist local investors by creating an affordable loan system; (loans with low interest rate and long-term pay back).

(10) Tourism is big business, and there is need to revisit the sector in line with peace, environmental sanitation, safety and security of our communities.  The Federal Government could boost tourism here by streamlining the visa process for foreigners and aggressively promoting travel to Nigeria, which will promote tourism business in the State and the Nation at large.

(11) The six entrepreneurial schemes unveiled by the State Government that include the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Program (YAGEP); Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Program (STEP); Production and Processing Support Program (PPSP); Extension of Loans; and Development of Agro-industries among others are bent towards meaningful and sustainable job creation.  These initiatives as stated by Delta State stakeholders will create jobs and wealth, diversify the economy, engage youths in productive enterprises, nurture entrepreneurs and leaders, and promote communal peace and security.  Integrated agricultural system is Delta State administration goal of diversifying the State’s economy and unprecedented development.

Once agricultural sector is prioritized again by government as stated in the SMART agenda, there will be credible jobs, financial institutions to provide soft agricultural loans and credit facilities for farmers especially in the rural areas. There is also the need to reform the land laws to collateralized local lands and make them collaterals for bank loans.  For agriculture to create meaningful jobs, agricultural development should be addressed in line with scarcity of variety of foods, promotion of processing methods for agricultural products and promotion of food preservation, promotion of commercial mechanized and commercial non-mechanized agriculture among others.

In conclusion, meaningful and sustainable job creation as outlined is in line with the Governor’s SMART development agenda of his administration.  The Governor promised to pursue it vigorously despite the financial crunch and sued for a change of attitude to work especially by public officials and youths, including those presently unemployed.  As noted, the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Program (STEP), is designed to equip youths with vocational and technical skills in computer hardware and phone repairs, sewing, plumbing, tiling, electrical installation, POP, catering and confectionaries and events management among others.  The objective of the Production and Processing Support Program (PPSP);  according to the Commissioner for Economic Planning in Delta State, Dr. Kingsley Emu, is to increase production capacity of existing farmers and the quality of produce through best practices; wherein beneficiaries are granted micro credit through available financing windows, subsidized bulldozers, tractors implements, chemicals, and high quality seeds.  With an enabling environment and sustainable peace, government should place emphasis on skills related vocational and technical trainings so that youths will be entrepreneurs and not job seekers.  We should emphasize the acquisition of skills rather than certificates and the educational system should be configured and supported to achieve this goal.

As state above, Delta State Government can tackle poverty through meaningful and sustainable job creation through the value chain in mineral exploitation, small and medium enterprises, by creating local demand and empowering local producers.  As noted, the State will gain a lot if youths are empowered to acquire modern skills.  Quality education is the key to sustainable job creation.  The State Government must rebuild the moribund educational facilities, engage quality and skillful teachers, equip the schools in the rural and urban areas with comprehensive educational infrastructure including sporting facilities to catch talented sports persons in their prime.

Educational sector has a strategic role to play in creating the necessary skills that would enable the youths to become creators of jobs and not just job seekers.  The State Government should minimize Brain Drain to maximize Brain Gain through the provision of incentives that will attract Delta State professionals in the Diaspora.  I believe in calling a spade by its proper name; the new cabinet formation of the State is a call for new vision, ideas, rigor and vigor.  It is a call for transcendental governance or a transformational leadership. Good Luck.

Dr. Chukwuma O. Nwaonicha,  a  public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.