Nigeria seeks inclusion of local engineers in ADB

THE Minister of State Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, has called on African Development Bank (ADB) to prioritize the inclusion of local content in its project implementation activities in Nigeria.

Ocholi, who stated this in Abuja recently when he received a delegation from the African Development Bank (ADB) led by the Director of the Bank, Pitamber Sunita, particularly asked for the accommodation of local content which will give opportunities to indigenous engineers in project implementation.

The Minister added that the main thrust of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is job creation for the teeming unemployed youths and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to partner the Bank to create job opportunities for the unemployed and under-employed.

Speaking further, Ocholi stressed that one critical area of assistance that ADB could be of assistant to Nigeria in its efforts at job creation is in the area of vocational skills and capacity building.

While emphasizing the fact that government alone cannot create jobs, he emphasized that President Muhammadu Buhari is redoubling efforts to ensure that the campaign promises he made to Nigerians are delivered, most especially in the area of job creation and tackling of terrorism.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Clement Illoh sought the support of ADB in critical arrears such as provision of social protection and safety nets, skills development and productivity enhancement, social inclusion, poverty reduction, anti-child labour and child trafficking supports, which are all critical to the present administration.

Earlier, the Leader of the ADB delegation, Pitamber Sunita explained that the purpose of the team visit was to acquaint themselves with the plans of the Ministry and the Federal Government of Nigeria in the areas of job creation and to offer support to the Federal Government efforts this regard.