HIIC decries Nigeria’s high unemployment rate

[Punch]

The Honorary International Investor Council rose from its 14th meeting in Abuja on Friday, raising concern over the growing unemployment rate in the country.

It also resolved to complement the Federal Government's efforts aimed at fighting corruption in the country.

The HIIC, headed by Baroness Lynda Chalker, was inaugurated in 2004 as a presidential advisory council to attract global financial players into the Nigerian economy.

Its two-day meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; members of the Federal Executive Council and top businessmen among others.

The outcome was contained in a 23-point communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.

"The council observed the growing unemployment rate and the rising number of poor skilled workforce, which was associated with the poor state of the educational system.

"It, therefore, urged the Federal Government to improve on its synergy with the other tiers of government and the industry in order to build basic education geared towards enhancing capacity of the workforce for industrialisation of the economy," the communiqué read in part.

The Punch