In a bid to address the increasing unemployment rate and boost industrialization in Nigeria, the Federal Government (FG) has partnered with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola disclosed that the move will help in creating more jobs, particularly in the marine and blue economy sector for the realization of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Oyetola made this disclosure in a statement, on Wednesday, signed by the Ministry’s Director, Press & Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi, in Abuja.
Oyetola said: “UNIDO is playing a vital role in promoting sustainable economic development in other regions. The minister commended the outcome of UNIDO’s continued collaboration with other countries, revealing that he had personal experience of such successful cooperation whilst he was chief of administration and later, the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria.
“I must commend you for the wonderful partnerships that have existed between our various states and UNIDO.” Speaking further, the Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tunubu for creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which he revealed is for the creation of jobs and purely for the successful use of resources for growth.
“The best way to go is to develop an industrial area to ensure we are able to produce, bearing in mind the best of quality assurance so that the product can compete with any other product in the world”, he added. He said that the Ministry has plans for environmental sustainability, emphasizing the need for partnership with UNIDO in those areas that will be beneficial to the citizens of Nigeria.
The Minister further disclosed that part of the pillars of the present Administration is food security and assured that Marine and Blue Economy has been mandated by Mr. President to contribute meaningfully to that. Calling on UNIDO to invest in fishing, he assured the sector’s regulation and other elements with the potential to grow the nation’s economy will be kept safe to be able to protect the people harvesting the marine resources.
The Minister stated that the Ministry will synergize with UNIDO in growing the technology and entrepreneurial development to ensure that institutions are harnessed for the socio-economic development of the country.
While speaking earlier, the UNIDO’s Ambassador to ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Office, Jean Bakole emphasized the need to support projects in areas of technical assistance, adding that some of the key areas of focus are research and statistics, agro-industry which is for production and manufacturing, innovation of ideas to support the country which will create job opportunities and marine waste management.
Bakole disclosed that UNIDO offers opportunities for investors and technology suppliers as well as fosters potential partnerships and gives unique services to entrepreneurs and business institutions that have re-created into global networks.
