A’Ibom takes steps to reduce youth unemployment

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has unveiled plans to inaugurate a State Inter-Labour Committee, to complement the vision and effort of the ARISE Youth Employment Portal.

He explained that the committee would ensure that all companies operating in the state engage indigenous human resources as well as exhibit transparent employment practices.

Speaking while launching the Arise Youth Employment Portal at Ibom Hotel And Golf Resort, Uyo on Monday, Eno stated that the Employment Portal was to fulfil the promise made when he signed a charter with Akwa Ibom youths months back while also providing jobs in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, on poverty reduction.

He described the portal as a one-stop site for employment matters,  urging both the civil service and private sector to explore the portal to its maximum advantage by showcasing employment opportunities for the youth.

“One of the major themes I campaigned on was the urgency in providing gainful employment opportunities for our teeming youths. This is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal on poverty reduction.

“At the Appreciation/Engagement Rally, I held about a month ago to honour our youths, I had, while unveiling my Charter with the Youths of Akwa Ibom State, stated that we would set up an Employment portal to harvest employment opportunities for them.

“I had also promised several empowerment schemes to appreciate the youths for freely following our leadership and for refusing to participate in the protest planned at that time.

“Today, I am pleased and happy to launch that employment Portal: The Arise Youth Employment Portal, where job opportunities will be segmented according to skill set”, he stated.

Eno explained that the 200 Health/Safety monitors, 3000 personnel for Ibom Watch and other empowerment programmes like the Youths Business Support, ARISE Entrepreneurial Support, and Bursary Educational Grants, will be coordinated through the portal.

He thanked the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Dr Frank Ekpenyong and his team for being painstaking in interpreting the vision of the employment portal which has enabled it to see the light of the day and urged all to embrace the initiative.

Speaking on the operation of the portal, Ekpenyong said that the portal is designed to open up the labour market and ensure that indigenes of the state are given unfettered access to employment opportunities.

Earlier, The Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, described the portal as a watershed in the State recruitment process, saying that qualified indigenes of the state will be given a window of opportunity to be recruited into the civil service using advanced technology.

On his part, the CEO of Hensek Integrated Services, Engr. Uwem Okoko, who represented the private sector, commended the Governor for the launch of the employment portal, describing it as a lofty innovation having come at the peak of the construction season when more hands would be needed to deliver their jobs.

The high point of the occasion was the unveiling of the portal by Governor Eno who was assisted by his Deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi.