President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday reiterated his administration’s commitment to job creation, saying it is one of the highest priorities of “our change agenda.”
The President made the priority known at the 2nd convocation ceremony of the Kaduna State University (KASU), where he was conferred with an honorary doctor of letters.
The award is the first ever conferred on the President.
Speaking on the theme of the convocation, “Entrepreneurship for Development,” President Buhari pledged that his administration will give the fullest possible support to all efforts to create more jobs through the reorientation of Nigerian youths towards an entrepreneurial mindset, pointing out that it is vital for the attainment of the Federal Government’s other objectives of improved security and poverty reduction.
“This administration will ensure that youths in the country are gainfully employed and youth restiveness curtailed.
“One of the focal points of this administration is job creation. Job creation will help in the achievement of other objectives of the government such as poverty reduction and security which are some of the challenges this administration is confronted with. Insecurity cannot be divorced from unemployment and poverty because an idle mind, they say, is the devil’s workshop.”
Buhari further stated that with declining internally generated revenue and over-dependence on the equally declining oil revenues, there was the need to seek other ways of diversifying the economy so as to boost revenue.
“One of the ways we can achieve this is through the reorientation of our youths towards an entrepreneurial mindset. We must therefore promote and enhance the teaching and learning of entrepreneurial skills in all schools and tertiary institutions, thereby exposing our youth to the basics and rudiments of starting and sustaining their own businesses,” he emphasised.
The President further stated that to encourage and assist Nigerian youth to move from being job seekers to job creators, his administration will sustain and improve ongoing programmes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, the Bank of Industry, the Bank of Agriculture and other Federal agencies to grant them start-up loans at concessionary rates.
He urged the Nigerian private sector to also do more to support government’s efforts to boost youth entrepreneurship and the development of micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the country, pointing out that it was in recognition of the importance of entrepreneurial skills that the Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission, made it mandatory for all universities to teach entrepreneurship skills, so that graduates can become job creators instead of job seekers after graduation.
He thanked the university for conferring the honourary doctorate degree of letters on him.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Williams Barnabas, said the award to the President was not because of his position as the Number One citizen of Nigeria, but in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of the country as an officer of the Nigerian Army, Head of State and currently, President of the country.
Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote was also honoured with a doctor of science by the university.
Also in Kaduna, the President attributed his success in the 2015 general election to the relentless efforts of musicians, whom he said contributed more to the APC’s success than the politicians.
The President who declared the Kaduna Music Festival (KADAMFEST) open, formally expressed his gratitude and that of the APC to artistes in the country for their tremendous contributions to the party’s victory.
He also expressed gratitude to the state Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for using the creative industry as an avenue for job creation.
The President commended the Kaduna state government for organising KADAMFEST as a platform to recognise talents and to encourage the emergence of new ones and also acknowledge the festival sponsors.
“The story of 2015 cannot be honestly told without acknowledging the contributions of creative people to APC’s success,” Buhari said, pointing out that though many politicians made efforts to mobilise people to make the success of 2015 possible, Nigerian artistes made a massive contribution to public enlightenment.
“Many actors, musicians and writers – from different strands and in various styles – drew Nigerians to the banner of change. In speaking the language of the people, enlightening and mobilising them with words and images they could understand, I doubt if any politician surpassed the likes of Dauda Rarara and other musicians,” he emphasised.
The President said, “The artistes gave hope to our people and persuaded them to believe that things could really change. Musicians and actors across the length and breadth of Nigeria mobilized the citizenry to stand up for peaceful, orderly and transparent elections. You preached both peace and hope leading to democratic change. You did so patriotically at great personal risk and without any expectations, inducement or financial reward.”
Buhari also pointed out that the application of creative talent to the cause of political change in a dire moment for our country deserves eternal gratitude.
“As President, I say a formal thank you today on behalf of myself, the APC and our victorious candidates. In appreciating talent, we have a duty to ensure that we do not turn our backs, or reduce the creative sector to something that we engage only during elections.”
He called on the youth of Kaduna State to embrace the opportunities the el-Rufai administration was providing, and noted that KADAMFEST is a veritable way of creating and expanding job opportunities and that it reflects the Kaduna State government’s approach to giving momentum to the growth of the creative industry in the state.
“It is noteworthy that the Kaduna State government has attracted sponsorship for this festival, and does not have to put in its own resources, which it would have been justified to. We hope that many more companies will in future support initiatives that boost our youths.”
The President acknowledged that Kaduna State has always been faithful to his political aspirations and expressed gratitude for the high number of votes the people of Kaduna State gave the APC.
-Leadership