Unemployment: Osibanjo Tells Huawei To Employ More Nigerian Youths

Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, is eyeing more jobs for Nigerian youth from Chinese tech Giant, Huawei Technologies Company Ltd, amid worsening unemployment situation.

Osinbajo said this during a virtual courtesy call from Huawei Nigeria led by its new Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Liu.

The VP according to his Media Aide, Laolu Akande said, “I think that Huawei and the Federal Government should work as partners, not just a business relationship, but a relationship that also takes employment into account, especially with our young population.

“We need to develop an ecosystem of competent Nigerians who can work locally and get international jobs as well, a business-outsourcing-type arrangement.”

Africa’s most populous nation has its unemployment rate officially at 27.1 per cent.

Nigeria’s youths remain the worst hit by unemployment with over 13.9 million people aged between 15 and 34 years unemployed.

Osibanjo told the Shenzhen headquartered company that Africa’s largest economy needs it to work as a corporate organization that sees itself as a part of the country’s future.

Nigeria’s VP said, “I want us to do something groundbreaking and different. Let’s see something that gives young people more than training, gives them some opportunity as well because this ecosystem will require a lot of people who see Huawei not just as a business but a brand that’s interested in them going forward.”

The company’s new CEO, re-assured Nigeria of its commitment to keep investing in Nigerian youths, saying the company has employed so many Nigerians into its workforce.

With a population of over 200 million, Liu said the tech giant was poised to invest in Nigeria as the continent’s tech hub.