ABUJA – President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the United Kingdom, France, United States and China for indicating interest to help Nigeria to fight terrorism and ensure stability in country.
Jonathan commended the four world super powers at the ongoing 24th World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa on Thursday in Abuja.
Nigeria was the first country to host the forum in West African with the theme `Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs.’
He said the presence of many participants at the forum indicated a sign that the fight against terror would be won.
According to him, if the participants had refused to come, the terrorists would have jubilated.
“Your coming here to support us morally is major blow on the terrorists and by God’s grace, we will conquer the terrorist.
“I appreciate other countries that have expressed their commitment to help us especially in rescuing the girls abducted from one of our secondary schools.
“The Premier of China has been with us for a state visit and the Government of China has promised to help us, and we believe that this assistance will come almost immediately.
“The governments of United States of America, the United Kingdom and France have also spoken with me and have shown their commitment to resolve this crisis in Nigeria.
“I believe that the kidnap of the girls will be the beginning and end of terrorism in Nigeria’’, he said.
On unemployment rate in the region, he said that efforts must be geared towards ensuring that the rate was reduced in the region.
He said 75 million young people globally were unemployed, adding that Africa’s unemployment rate was at 20 per cent while that of Nigeria was 24 per cent.
He noted that African leaders must ensure that inclusive growth was achieved through various innovations to create job for the youthful population in the region.
“Job creation must be what should occupy the time of every African leader, it is also one that keeps me awake at night’’, he said.
He said that the ongoing transformation agenda of his administration had focused on areas that would drive inclusive growth.
The President noted that the rebasing of the Nigerian economy, which had made the country’s economy largest in Africa, also opened opportunity to improve many sectors.
The sectors, he said, included agriculture, services and entertainment, among others, adding that the 2014 budget had been designed to create jobs.
He noted that youths, through initiatives such as You Win, SURE-P and Young Entrepreneurs, had been empowered and jobs equally created.
“We are engaging with the private sector to tackle infrastructure problems and we are trying to change the mind set of our young people to understand that after school, they do not need to depend on government jobs’’, he said.
On inequality, he said Nigeria was understudying the Brazilian social safety net conditional cash transfer model to help change the lives of the poor in the country.
He assured that his administration would continue to ensure that jobs were created and poverty reduced in the country.
He urged other African leaders to think bold and high about their policies to ensure that inclusive growth was witnessed in the region soon.
One minute silence was observed for the support of the effort to rescue the Chibok girls. (NAN)
