The Yobe government says it will partner the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to enhance job creation for unemployed graduates.

Governor Mai Mala Buni stated this during a courtesy visit by the agency’s director-general, Charles Odii, on Monday in Damaturu.

Mr Buni said that he was personally worried and shared the pain of unemployed graduates.

“Government is committed to securing employment opportunities for the unemployed graduates to meet the expectations of their families for them to live their lives with dignity and prosperity.

“The state government in the recent past massively employed university graduates, Higher and Ordinary (sic) Diploma holders, and National Certificate of Education graduates across the 178 political wards in the state.

“As a government, we are committed to do anything humanly possible to secure and stand for our graduates to be employed and be self-employed,” he said.

The governor said the youths trained by state in various trades were gainfully employed and labour employers.

“This partnership occupies a very special place in the heart of our administration, and we are committed to secure more jobs for our youth. The government will explore the potential in each of the 17 local government areas to provide means of livelihood and economic prosperity to our youth,” Mr Buni added.

Also speaking, Mr Odii expressed the readiness of the agency to partner the state government towards providing employment opportunities for unemployed graduates.

According to Mr Odii, the agency will drive, stimulate and coordinate the development of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) in the state to promote self-sufficiency.

He said the partnership would provide the benefitting graduates with skills to accelerate self-employment for economic prosperity. 

(NAN)