Kogi to Partner Ajaokuta Steel Company on Job Creation, Skill Acquisition Training

By Ismail M Kabir

The Special Adviser on Job Creation and SMEs development, Hon. Abdulkareem Onyekehi today met with the Sole Administrator of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Dr. Joseph Onobere at the Steel City, Ajaokuta. Hon. Abdulkareem said the visit was to familiarise with the complex and open talks on areas of possible collaboration with the steel company in creating jobs for multitudes of unemployed youths in the state. In an address to the administrator, the special adviser lauded the efforts of Dr. Onobere in repositioning the steel company after decades of neglect by past governments in Nigeria. "Ajaokuta is the bedrock of the nation's industrialization and the largest Federal Government’s investment in the country till this day. “As the Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello on Job creation and SMEs development and for the fact that Ajaokuta is my constituency, I owe it a duty to familiarise with the steel plant, work closely with the management as part of the commitment to deliver on my mandate". Hon Onyekehi commended in particular, the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Yahaya Bello to revive the steel plant as part of the nation’s economic diversification drive of the APC-led administration. Dr. Onobere while appreciating the bold step taken by the Special Adviser said that Ajasteel complex remains Nigeria's hope of true industrialization, describing it as an integrated steel plant with over 40 industries. He noted that upon commencement of full operation, the steel industry will generate millions of jobs for Nigerians as well as creating wealth for the host community in particular. "Ajaokuta steel company has the capacity to transform the Nigerian economy and set the nation on self-dependence while creating millions of jobs for the unemployed Nigerians", Onobere said. He stressed that only the technical department of the company can directly employ over 10,000 technicians with the capacity to generate additional 500,000 indirect jobs. The sole administrator led the special adviser and his team to the Metallurgical Training Center (MTC), an integral training institute within the complex. Dr. Onobere said the state government could utilize the facility in providing Kogi youths with metallurgical training and other related skills for their employability at the steel company upon full take off and elsewhere. Hon. Onyekehi pledged his commitment to working closely with the management of the steel company in harnessing the opportunities as part of his mandate in job creation for Kogi youths. The sole administrator implored the special adviser to encourage other top officials of Kogi state government to visit the complex for a tour of the plant with a view to embrace the economic benefits for the success of the New Direction policy of Yahaya Bello administration. Credit: Ebirareporters