In 2000, Abia State unemployment rate was 4.2%. By 2019, it had risen to 32.5%. The question is: how do we get the unemployment rate to a single digit? In other words, how do we get Abians back to work?
This is a very important issue because I met Aba, the heart of the state, when it was still working. As an intern in NNPC Nigerian Gas Company (Moscow Road, PHC), my duty station was Owaza Gas Flow station. Weekly, from Owaza, I would go and read gas meters in Aba Glass Industry, etc, which received gas from the flow station. Those pipelines were there and from Owaza, NNPC supplied gas to Aba industries.
Today, we are talking of providing gas pipelines to power companies in Aba. But decades ago, there were working pipelines! What happened to those infrastructures? Big question indeed.
Good People, a new Abia is coming and we need your support to build new industries and get young people back to work! Mr. Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, made that promise and we’re confident he will fulfill it to young people and all Abians. As part of helping his playbook, share your answer on “how do we get the unemployment rate to a single digit in Abia State?”
Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe
Co-Chair, Abia State Economic Transformation Transition Council
Comment
My proposals
All this can be achieved in less than 8 years.
Some less than 4 years
It is possible.
We just need to stimulate the catalyst for growth which is what I focused on. pic.twitter.com/Zgphh6s8gp
— Chikwere (@NwekereNdoki) April 26, 2023
My Response: I have read the 50 year plan two times. Great work. But notice that it omitted clearly how to fund these elements. Abia does not have the luxury of listing every nice cookie without how to pay for it. Government does not need to run a bank. But the government should make it easier for private banks to do their jobs. With billions of naira in debt, a spending-based strategy will not pick up. We’re exploring how we create and improve ease of doing business so that companies/investors can see the opportunities and come.
Comment here:
My Response: in Igbo culture, you do not ask your host for kola because you have none. In consultative leadership, seeking inputs to refine ideas cannot be a sign of weakness. The problems are known. Some solutions are at work. But engaging communities to architect their futures has always worked because when people are part of designing the system, the execution is always better. We do not want to stay in one room, write and push on the citizens. So, we’re speaking with community leaders and we’re confident that a transparent honest conversation will help to shape priorities.
Comment 3: Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, I strongly believe you and your esteemed team have all it takes to reduce unemployment rates in Abia State, Nigeria, to single digits. The state’s unemployment rate rose from 4.2% in 2000 to 32.5% in 2019, making it important to create new industries for job opportunities.
To tackle unemployment in Abia State, solutions include:
Promoting and supporting entrepreneurship (by providing support programs, training, and funding to enable young people to start their businesses), attracting investments (local and foreign investors), developing infrastructure (to enhance transportation, communication, and energy supply), encouraging public-private partnerships (PPP) (The government can work in partnership with the private sector to provide support and investment in critical sectors of the economy), and improving education and skills development (The government can invest in education and skills development programs that will equip young people with relevant skills for the job market.)
Comment 4: There has to be a way to move Micro Enterprises into Small and Medium enterprises by helping them grow, Having access to what’s needed
I’ll opine there should be a functional business school in Aba where thorough knowledge of how to build aright, can be shared
Open up The Technology Incubation Centres and industrial parks to serve as sandbox for various industries… food, leather, fashion etc… where ideas can be birthed and place some government owned Enteprise support fund [Part Loan, Part Grant or Part Equity]. The industrial hub should have its own power or dedicated power lines
Aba Needs Indigenous Tech startups that can digitize ecosystems and Capture values and employ people in large volumes. But more importantly, facilitate transactions – I think the tech ecosystem needs to be built for startups incubation, harnessing of its Higher Education students for localized and remote works
Can we Gamify SME support!? and reward get getting
These, and more I believe can be done
