Obaseki: I’ve created 157,000 jobs in 3yrs

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Edo State Governor, Godwin Godwin Obaseki, has claimed he has created 157,000 jobs in the last three years.
The jobs, he said were created through job tracking for organisations, job matching and placement, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship and Edo Innovates programme.
The Edo state Governor stated this at the Alaghodaro 2019 Youth Summit as part of activities to mark his three years in office.
He stated that many people doubted his ability to create the jobs when he made the promise three years ago but he took the risk.
He explained that he built the job creation programme around six key areas such as the people, education, sport, and arts and culture.
On education, Governor Obaseki stated that by next academic session, he would establish 300 stand-alone Junior Secondary School where vocational training would be offered.
Governor Obaseki said any student that passed through the schools might have learnt a skill or a vocation that would make them earn a living.
His words, “By the time they are graduating from JSS, the children must have had handwork because there will be fundamental training at the schools.
We want to change the mindset that education is not about certificate. That is why introduced Edo jobs to help the youths retrace their steps.
“We are mapping out our economy. We are looking at the future through our 30 years development plan.
“Our independent power supply would soon be available to power the street lights and production centres.”
The event saw 150 youths empowered with engineering starter packs after undergoing training.
Over 2000 youths participated in the programme and were linked with jobs in some organisations present at the event.