Okonjo-Iweala meets Tinubu on youth unemployment, others

Forum 8 months ago

Okonjo-Iweala meets Tinubu on youth unemployment, others

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Tuesday, said her discussion with President Bola Tinubu focused on how the WTO can support Nigeria in the present of need, including youth employment.

Okonjo-Iweala, who visit the Presidential Villa, Abuja, alongside a ministerial nominee, Ali Pate, said her visit was not an official WTO visit.

“We saw the President and focused on how we can support Nigerians at this time of need. We all know that things are very difficult for Nigerians outside, everyone is struggling. I’m here myself on a quiet visit. So, this was not really an official WTO mission but we’re able to engage with Mr President, and talk about the kinds of programmes that could be put in place to make sure that the suffering of Nigerians is being alleviated.

“We had a really good conversation on trying to look at the community and grassroots programmes that can be put in place to create jobs for young people, trying to support women and children, who are bearing the brunt of some of the suffering in the country. We talked about how for the longer term, we need investment opportunities that Nigeria can seize, including in the pharmaceutical industry.

“We also talked about the what type of support the World Trade Organisation can bring. We’re already working in Nigeria with women in particular, who own Small and Medium Enterprises to try to help them upgrade the quality of their products. Whether it’s in the agricultural area, in textiles and other areas so that they can sell more internationally.

“We’re trying to help them with digital trade, the wave of the future digital trade; how do we train and empower Nigerian women and owners of Small and Medium Enterprises so they can trade more and create more jobs? So that’s what’s needed now, helping Nigerians to alleviate the difficult conditions that they are in.”

Also speaking, the ministerial nominee, Pate said Tinubu was aware of the difficulties currently experienced by Nigerians and would do everything to ensure that the sufferings were alleviated.

“I think I’ll just reaffirm, that Mr. President is fully aware of the difficulties that people are facing, and committed and I think doing all that he can and with his team to ensure that those sufferings are alleviated.