By Simeon OSAJIE
With the strong determination to crash the unemployment rates in Edo State and make the youths economically viable and self-sufficient, Mr. Michael Ojiezele CEO S-Leader Arena and Chairman, Great GSM Village has led his pragmatic executives on courtesy visit on the deputy governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa.
Tabling the plights of Edo youths before the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Ojiezele who commended the deputy for being a strong pillar to the GSM Village, said the association has the ability to crash the unemployment rates in the state to 40 percent based on their expertise.
CEO S-Leader Arena and Chairman, Great GSM Village said that they have the capacity and the technical know-how to train the youths in the state in GSM repairs and other forms of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The Great GSM Village boss said at present, over 60 percent of youths are being employed by the association.
He said this percentage of total population can now conveniently take care of their families and contribute their quota to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state.
He said the association has realized that the government can collaborate with them to further reduce the population of unemployment in the state by hiring their services to train the youths on GSM repairs and other communication devices.
He said now that the students are in holidays, instead of parents allowing them to roam the streets, they can be sent to the GSM Village to learn how to repair phones.
He said with this, it can help reduce the level of social vices and crimes because they have been engaged adding that, it is only an idle mind that can be the devil’s workshop.
He noted that this will not cost the government of the day much as they are also seeing the process as a way of contributing their quota to the development of the state.
He also maintained that the government does not need to go out of the state to hire someone to train the youths in the skills because the association has them in their large numbers, instead, the government should leverage on their wealth of experiences to drive the process of job creation in the state.
While lauding the SHINE Agenda of the governor of the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, he said the Great GSM Village is keenly interested and particular about it and will want to do everything in their powers to make it succeed.
He said this partnership that they crave for is in line with the principle of the governor’s SHINE Agenda.
He said it is their great desire to see Edo State work and the youths are gainfully employed.
Responding, the Edo State deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, thanked them for visiting despite their busy schedule.
He said the government is interested in the welfare of its citizenry especially its youthful population.
Hon. Idahosa assured them that the government is poised to reduce the level of unemployment in the state and will work with them to addressing it.
Present at the visit are former Chairman, Hon Stephen Imokhuede Osagie Ohimai, the Odionwere of Great GSM Village and Comrade Abraham Aminu and other.