Ngige charges graduates to look beyond public sector for jobs

By Benjamin Idakwo

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has charged unemployed graduates seeking employment in the public sector to focus their attention elsewhere, saying there are more sustainable lucrative opportunities outside the government establishment.

Ngige made the call at a Townhall meeting on popularisation of blue/green collar jobs among graduates of tertiary institutions in Nigeria held in Benin City, Edo State.

The Minister, who was represented at the event by the Director, Special Duties and Projects Department in the ministry, Martina Nwordu, reminded the participants that the wealthiest youths in the world today are not government employees.

According to statement signed by the Deputy Director/Head of Press at the ministry, Charles Akpan, “The minister also urged Nigerian youths to invest their talent in other job sectors, as the richest youth of the world, aged between 21 and 31 years, are not employees of government but smart entrepreneurs who distinguished themselves in creative skills in various areas.”

Ngige disclosed that the purpose of the meeting, which held concurrently in four other geo-political zones of the federation, was to sensitise representatives of key stakeholders in graduate employment on the benefits of blue/green-collar jobs as an alternative response to the challenges of graduate unemployment.