GIS Urges Synergy Between Government, Private Sector

IN line with the Federal Government’s resolve to diversify the economic base of the country, the facilitators and beneficiaries of the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), a sub-brand of the Subsidy

Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), has called on private business owners to collaborate with government in curbing the rate of unemployment among Nigerian youths.

The call was made during a feedback session with interns and partner firms which held at Lagos Airport Hotel recently.

As a direct impact of the GIS programme, the country is now witnessing the birth of news SMEs and cooperative societies which interns are using to start their businesses. Over 22, 000 graduates have been deployed with 68 per cent males and 31 per cent females having secured jobs.

Addressing the audience which comprised interns, firms and journalists, the Project Director of GIS, Mr. Peter Papka, stated that the objective of the feedback session was to get on-the-spot information about the work status, welfare and social well-being of interns.

“We want to also ascertain the cordiality between interns and the employers, so that we can proffer solution to some challenges through this platform. Our vision is that the GIS will be yet another example that Nigeria will sell to the world as a way out of graduate unemployment. It is also my hope that some years down the line, the GIS interns will galvanise different sectors, especially the non-oil sector, which are the new focus of the Nigerian economy.”

Participants and interns present at the feedback session thanked organisers of the GIS programme for cushioning the effect of unemployment in the country while also requesting for a more enduring exit plan for the scheme.