Thread by @OgbeniDipo

Invited to speak on Strategies of Job Creation in #Nigeria at a Policy Dialogue organised by the Ibadan School of Govt and Public Policy in conjunction with Office of the Vice President & the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Looking forward to a productive outing.

We are here in #Ibadan 🙂

I am in the midst of former VCs, Current VCs, Professor here and there, big big title LOOL and they’re all greeting like old school friends.

It was an interesting event today I must confess. I learn a lot from all the professors and former VCs who attended and of course other private sector folks. However, we need more young people in these policy dialogues with the Federal and State Governments. A short thread🙂

I spoke on Job Creation Strategies for Nigeria. Starting off, I identified two major challenges:
1. Disconnection between the policies/plans of the FG and the realities of the Nigerian labour market.
2. Changes in political leadership resulting in changes in policy/direction.

Solutions/Strategies:
1. We need specific interventions to address skills development. For example, entrepreneurship needs to be taught from secondary school up to Uni level. Incorporate it into the curriculum as a must. #ISGPP #SeminarSeries #Unemployment #JobCreation

2. A lot more young people need to become job creators, not job seekers. If our universities don’t make this happen, it won’t happen by accident. Our plan must be deliberate. #ISGPP #SeminarSeries #Unemployment #JobCreation

3. We need to prioritise and coordinate job creation strategies. Cut out all the unnecessary duplications everywhere. We have some very good policies from 2003, we have vision 2010, vision 2020, Economic recovery plan etc. Lump these together and forge ahead smartly.

4. The Nigerian goverment needs to create an enabling environment for innovation, entrepreneurship and MSMEs to thrive. This is very important. This can launch our country forward by miles!

5. We need to translate think tank policy meetings like this into tangible actions. It is fine to meet/discuss, but after a year, a follow up event should focus on what has been achieved for one year, what is the plan for 5 years and 10 years, not another round of fresh talks.

6. The federal government needed to fix the power sector and broadband penetration. Without that, we are wasting our time. Sorry to say.

7. Tax breaks of at least 7 years for infant companies in selected industries. This should encourage business minded folks.

8. Business parks and innovation hubs are also a must.

9. Solid partnership between the government and the private sector. Not just the big boys like Dangote. With everyone. Government should be actively promoting and protecting businesses.

These were some of the point raised at the discussion on Strategies for job creation in Nigeria. Please feel free to challenge these views and offer better ideas in the thread.

It was a good event. Kudos to @ClassicalGer and her team for working tirelessly to ensure all was well. Many thanks to Professor TA Oyejide and @TunjiOlaopa of @ibsgpp for the invite. I appreciate sirs.

While we value the experience of our superiors and senior citizens, I believe we need more young people on board. We need more radicals to propose solutions and solve the many problems in Nigeria. We need fresh minds and eyes to look at things & of course, guidance of our elders.

I was impressed at the level of detail and critique of Professor Oyejide‘s paper, but more so of the team from @LSETF and the super smart @Emekaossai. I think everyone of you should follow Emeka. They are doing something great, inside our campuses. The end.