Sen. Hope Uzodinma (PDP-Imo) has urged the Federal Government to come up with a framework for entrepreneurial development in the country to reduce the rate of unemployment.
He made the call while addressing newsmen at the sidelines of a Conference organised by Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
Uzodinma, who doubles as the National Coordinator of Catholic Legislators, said government should strive hard to create enabling environment and regulatory framework for the entrepreneurial development for the economy to grow.
He added that government should be genuine by providing incentives and support in terms of subsidising essential requirements needed for establishing enterprises.
The lawmaker, however, noted that it had become very clear that government alone could not provide all the essential services.
“What the Church has done is to encourage citizens to develop this sense of independence and enterprise, to also create the awareness that you don’t have to wait until government has employed you.
“We need to grow our economy and to be able to grow the economy, it has to be through collective effort.
“The Church as a partner; the government as partner; individuals as partners; it will be a win situation,” Uzodinma said.
He said if the youth were gainfully employed, crime rate in the country would be greatly reduced.
“People will be gainfully employed to the extent that what the Church has always stood for, which is show of love, will be on the increase,” he said.
On the Permanent Voter Card (PVC), Uzodinma advised Nigerians to actively participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), to empower them towards performing their civic duties of electing their leaders in 2019.
“I expect the youth to spend more time to show interest in political activities in other climes which would provoke them to know what is happening in Nigeria.
“Young men and women should be encouraged to be part of the leadership because everything has gone digital and it is only the exuberant content of the society that stimulates good leadership, economy and politics.
“I challenge our young men and women to show greater interest and determination toward contributing their own quota in our national election.”
Also, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, said the meeting was aimed at mobilising Nigerians to believe in themselves.
“Many of our people believe it is only when you have government jobs that you are secured.
“Everybody should get up and do something. And the church is trying to teach them that they must embark on self-help projects.
“Government should do its part by providing jobs and helping young people to develop.
“When that doesn’t happen, they should not keep lamenting in frustration. They should just do whatever little they can do and it will make the difference,” he said.
On the season of lent, Ignatius, who is also the Arch Bishop of Jos, urged Christians to pray, repent and reconcile with God.
The clergy added that it was a period of sober reflection calling on the faithful to translate religion into practice.
“Not just been nominal Christians but apply religion concretely.
“If we return to God, all these problems we are facing will drastically reduce or be eliminated.
On his part, Rep. Edward Pwajok, who represents Jos South Constituency, said the purpose of the interaction was “to further improve us particularly in this Lenten season.
He urged Christians to maintain the virtues of honesty, hard work, forgiveness, and be charitable to one another and genuinely serve God and Nigeria.
“Government is very concerned about youth unemployment because it is unemployment that gives rise to the other vices in the society.
“We have a huge population; we will continue to do our best to ensure that we reduce unemployment in society, particularly among the youth,” Pwajok said.(NAN)
