Former governor of Edo State and the senator representing Edo North at the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole has praised the collaboration between the Italian government and the Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration Immigration Development and Reintegration (YAMIDR) towards curbing unemployment in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole hosted the Italian delegation led by Dr Antonio Lovecchio who is the minister of foreign affairs of Order of Malta Sovereign Order and the facilitator of Italian training projects between IYAMIDR and GOA Consulting Training Institute and Nino Bergesse Training Institution, Genova, Italy.
The training which shall span between three to six months will be on gas pipe welding, rail track installation and maintenance, yacht maintenance, scaffolding, catering and safety management for Nigeria youths to bridge the unemployment gap and create opportunities to promote patriotism amongst the youths.
While expressing excitement, Oshiomhole said, “This project if well-coordinated will increase the GDP of Nigeria, boost our economy and take us from the conventional certificate-based economy to skilled economy which is the driving force of the developed countries today.”
On his part, Antonio appreciated the former APC national chairman for his warm reception.
He also pledged to activate his Italian influence to promote investment in Nigeria especially in the youths after their training in Italy to set them up in Nigeria.
According to the Italian training provider, “In Italy, we are not happy seeing young people from Nigeria coming through the Sahara Desert, Mediterranean Sea to Italy. Many died trying to cross to Europe, they don’t know what they are going to meet even when they come because of the system in Europe.
“You need skills to get a good job. This is why we want to address the problem from the root,” Dr Antonio explained.
He continued, “This project is a sponsorship programme from an international organisation that is based in the Netherlands and facilitated by the Transparency and Accountability Initiative (TAI). It will be done through the IYAMIDR Organization and will be done in the City of Genova, Italy.”
Solomon Okoduwa, executive director of IYAMIDR, thanked Oshiomhole for his fatherly role toward the youth and his acceptance to be chairman Board of Trustees to IYAMIDR Nigeria.