Nigeria, UNIDO, partner to reduce unemployment, promote industrialisation

The Nigerian Government has indicated interest in partnering with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO to promote industrialisation and reduce unemployment in the country.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola disclosed this while responding to the offer by UNIDO to partner with the Ministry at a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital city.

Mr Oyetola said that the partnership with UNIDO to have an industrialisation road map, will help to create more jobs in the marine and blue economy sector for the realisation of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking during the meeting, the Minister stated that 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 in Osun State of Nigeria.

“I must commend you for the wonderful partnerships that have existed between our various states and UNIDO,” he stated.

Speaking further, the Minister commended President Bola 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.

The Minister explained that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has plans for environmental sustainability in whatever it does, adding that he is willing to partner with the UNIDO on those areas that will be beneficial to the citizens of Nigeria.

He 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.

The Minister urged the representatives of UNIDO to invest in fishing, and assured that fishing, its regulation, and other element with potentials to grow the nation’s economy will be kept safe to be able to protect the people harvesting the marine resources.

Mr Oyetola stated that the Ministry will synergise with UNIDO in growing the technology and entrepreneurial development to ensure that institutions are harnessed for 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.