Mastercard Foundation to create 10 million job opportunities for youths

Mastercard Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing unemployment in Nigeria by providing access to dignified and fulfilling jobs for 30 million young people under its Young Africa Works strategy, 10 million of which will come from Nigeria.
   
This was disclosed by the Country Head, Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, Chidinma Lawanson, during a panel session themed, ‘Jobs Crisis Response’ at the 27th Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja.
   
Lawanson said to achieve this ambitious goal, Mastercard Foundation would be providing support in three critical areas including Digital Economy, Agriculture and the creative sectors, which are pivotal in addressing the rising level of unemployment in Nigeria and Africa as a continent.
   

She further noted that the organisation was willing and open to more partnership with stakeholders that would create opportunities for the youth and foster development for the Nigerian economy.
 
Also speaking virtually during the session, the ExecutiveGovernor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted that the administration was doing its best to unlock many opportunities for Lagosians, noting that it would continue to create the enabling environment particularly for the private sector to thrive.  
   
Sanwo-Olu said the administration had done quite a lot to address the alarming rate of unemployment through several direct interventions that include capacity training programmes and direct recruitment into its workforce. 
 
The Chief Executive Officer, Jobberman Nigeria, Rolake Rosiji disclosed that the partnership between Jobberman and Mastercard Foundation is expected to create entrepreneurs and job creators, adding that many youths are currently being trained on soft skills to enable them meet the demand of the 21st century workplace.