ABUJA – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged African leaders to speed up industrialisation process, to create more decent job opportunities for their young population.
Mr Aneneas Chuma, the new ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, made the call at a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that only through industrialisation and less dependence on importation would the continent provide jobs for the youth.
Chuma said that the ILO was well aware of the tremendous challenges that youth unemployment posed to its member-states, including Nigeria.
He noted that the ILO was greatly impressed by the efforts of both the federal and state governments in providing employment and income generation options for youths.
“Our priorities are clear; we have to support industrialisation. Africa has a young population that is eager to work.
“Our young population is a tremendous advantage in the industrialisation process,” Chuma.
He said that ILO would encourage ECOWAS to examine how migration of professionals could be managed, to be mutually beneficial to the region and individual countries.
He said that one of the things facing most West African countries was shortage of skills.
Chuma said that African economy had grown in the last few years but that it had not led to the transformation of the economy.
He noted that the economic growth had not resulted in significant jobs as expected. (NAN).
