Tackling Unemployment with KEDA: Yahaya Bello’s Masterstroke
By Hafsat Ibrahim
Unemployment is already a ‘terrifying menace’ in Nigeria. Fixing its Gordian knot seems to be a challenge for the Federal and State Governments, in recent years.
According to experts in economic matters, creating jobs for a nation’s youth population of unemployed requires robust policy formulation and implementation.
Kogi State is highly regarded as one of the States in Nigeria with low productivity, little economic viability and poor revenue generation.
It was even refered to as a ‘Civil Service State’ prior to the birth of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
A civil service state, for the records, is one where there is zero job opportunity in the private sector, and also low manufacturing and industrial activities.
But the Kogi of today, under the principled stewardship of Governor Bello is changing the narrative in employment and job provisions for citizens.
One of the remarkable policy measures adopted by Governor Bello, aimed at providing teeming job opportunities for Kogi citizens, is the creation of the Kogi State Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA).
First of its kind across the country, KEDA, an agency under the supervision of the Kogi State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is performing wonders as far as boosting entrepreneurial activities in Kogi, is concerned.
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Barely few years in existence, KEDA has been driving entrepreneurial growth and socio-economic development for the people of The Confluence State.
In the last one year, KEDA, it must be said, helped improved the economic viability of Kogi through enhancing the capabilities of SMEs.
It has also provided the needed partnership to micro and small businesses in the State, to boost their level of productivity.
In addition, the agency has also entered into beneficial partnerships with Kogi rice and mushroom farmers.
Through the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), KEDA has been diligently implementing its viable micro finance banking policies for MSMEs in Kogi State.
Thanks to massive enlightening programmes on the benefits of entrepreneurship development organised by KEDA, thousands of Kogi able-bodied youths are now abandoning the hot chase for white-collar jobs.
Those who established small-scale businesses received necessary financial and moral support from KEDA, and are now proud owners of thriving business outfits.
The feats achieved by KEDA are indeed unparalleled, in the annals of human capital development in Kogi State. KEDA, may be few-years-old, but it is already actualising its corporate mandate.
The commitment and vision of Governor Bello, which is to provide massive job and employment opportunities for teeming Kogites, is already manifesting.
Indeed, The Confluence State could not have wished for a better deal than they presently have.
