By Geraldine Chinasa
Enugu State Government has sought the collaboration of a Federal Government Agency, the Corporate Affairs Commission to boost its $30 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target as well as plans in place to train about 40, 000 youth in science and technology including e-ticketing.
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Engr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh to the Zonal office of the Commission in Enugu.
Speaking during the visit, the Commissioner in the company of the Permanent Secretary, TPL Ugwueze Mike, Managing Director Tech-Hub, Engr. Chidubem, and others, said that the State Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology has come to seek collaboration with the Agency to boost the state economy, adding that plans are also on ground for the were training 40,000 young men and women in the State.
Engr. Prince Lawrence said, “Our visit here today is to seek collaboration with your noble organization. The reason for this collaboration is necessitated by the fact that our Governor, His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is so desirous of taking most of our youths off the streets and getting them meaningfully engaged at the moment. The State Government is working very hard to commence training of about 40,000 Enugu youths very soon. We are closing in on needed arrangements.
“We are here also to solicit your collaboration in areas of supporting our young men who will be graduating or qualifying from these trainings with company registration of enterprise because they don’t have the needed funds.
Engr. Prince Ezeh also noted that due to the level at which some youths engage themselves in unproductive usage of social media and as well as an effort to increase the state GDP, his team has come to collaborate with the Commission to see those youths registered with their enterprise after they must have undergone training.
“We have noticed that most of our young people use social media for frivolous activities up to 2 a.m. The person will be rest assured that the next day will be useless because he can’t work again. But if in the day the person is constructively engaged in one training or after the training, he is now capacitated to do one or two jobs that can put food on his table. There is no one who wouldn’t want to work to earn a living. The only reason why some people cannot work is that one, work is not available, and two, the skills are not there, and of course, you and I can see the noble objectives of the Governor. The Governor has already made it very clear he is working aggressively towards realizing that.
“There is no way we will train 300 and we cannot get at least 100 that are serious and capable of taking off. This company registration is a starter pack that we are giving to them so that they can quickly commence work and start earning their small money. And while they earn those monies, the state government will be taking small taxes and no matter how small; our GDP will increase. Parents will also heave a sigh of relief.
In response, the Zonal Director, Dr. Andrew Ubaka stated that they are always ready to assist government, corporate, or individual businesses when it came to registration of their companies or businesses.
He promised that as a government, the Commision would look at the processes and know where they could come in to collaborate with the State Government.
He also pointed out that as soon as the proposals are submitted to the Commission, they would ensure that some rigorous processes some agents go through in getting some companies registered would be minimized adding that what the team presented was in line with the trend.
“What you have said is in line with the trend. It is easy to say, that young man and young woman, go and find a job, be employed, and not wait for the government. If you remember at a time, we had a business incentive strategy. The effect of business strategy was reduced by half.
“You are to put your request in writing. From there we can recommend ways we can help. If you have a number of youths who want to be registered with us, first of all, we will look at their records.”
The Director also offered that if if invited, the Agency would make itself available to make presentations on the processes to the Ministry.
