FG, CNP to collaborate on SoTNE’s1,000 entrepreneurs

The Federal Government has said it would collaborate with the Computerize Nigeria Project (CNP) in achieving its aim of creating 1000 entrepreneurs through wealth with integrity among Nigerians within the shortest possible time.

This is coming as FG said its National Action Plan on Employment Creation (NAPEC) recently adopted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is targeting about 5 million jobs beginning from the next two years.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, disclosed this during a one-day seminar on Spirit of the True Nigerian Entrepreneur (SoTNE) with the theme ‘Creating Wealth with Integrity in 21st Century Nigeria’ which held in Abuja over the weekend.

Wogu said, all contracts under consideration by the Federal Executive Council must henceforth indicate its local employment content under a new contract policy adopted by the government.

He reiterated the readiness of the Federal Government through his office to ensure that the objective of the conference is met.

“We are ready to collaborate with the SoTNE team to achieve this laudable objective of creating wealth with integrity,” he said.

According to him, who was the guest of honour at the conference, under the latest NAPEC, it has become mandatory for all contracts or programmes by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to indicate their local employment content.

“Overall, the NAPEC will ensure that Nigeria meets her employment challenges by creating 4 to 5 million new jobs in its first two years of implementation,” Wogu said.

Wogu assured that the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration is committed to ensuring gainful employment for every Nigerian in the labour market and is ready to collaborate with SoTNE, noting that government’s recognition of the strategic role of the private sector in employment generation, stressing that government is mindful of its responsibilities under the various Public-Private-Partnership arrangements.

Chairman of the occasion and former Minister for Commerce, Chief Charles Ugwu, lauded the conveners led by chairman of Zinox, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, whom he said, despite his success was very willing to show the way to other Nigerians.

He, therefore tasked participants to make good use of the opportunity by remaining attentive throughout the SoTNE conference.

“As we discuss the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) value chain remember that there are other value chains. Nigeria needs entrepreneurs and there are many opportunities begging to be explored,” Ugwu said.

The Vice-President Namadi Sambo was represented by his aide Dr. Baba Jubril, alongside Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NTIDA) Prof. Cleopas Angaye, Director General of National Productivity Centre (NPC), Dr. Paul Bdliya and had the Chief Executive of Zinox Computers, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh to name a few.

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