Dangote appointed Deputy Chairman of National Council on skills
As part of efforts to tackle unemployment in Nigeria, the Federal Government has inaugurated the National Council on Skills, with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, chairing the council, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, serving as first Deputy Chairman, and Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote being the second Deputy Chairman
While inaugurating the council at the Aso Rock villa, Prof. Osinbajo, stressed the commitment of the Federal Government in the fight against unemployment. The VP said: “The present administration has really prioritized the skilling and employment of Nigerian youths and this is borne out of what we have in our Economic and Recovery and Growth Plan.”
“We consider that vocational and digital technology skills are critical in the effort of this government not only to provide employment for our young people but also as an important feature of diversifying our economy.
“There is no question at all that one of the critical questions that come up all the time is the employability of our young men and women. It is becoming increasingly evident that it is not enough to have the certificate to compete favourably today. It is important that young men and women have requisite skills, technical and digital skills to enable them to find a place especially in the job market of this challenging 21st century,” the VP also said.
In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Laolu Akande, members of the council include: Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Industry Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Ali Isa Pantami; Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare, Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen.
Others are: Chairman of the Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babgana Zulum, Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo; Mr Willie Obiano of Anambra; and Alhaji Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
The statement further stated that the membership of the council also includes the representatives of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), National Universities Commission (NUC), UK Department For International Development (DFID) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).