Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has described skill acquisition scheme as an important contribution to economic growth in developed country.

          Governor Abiodun stated this in Sagamu, during the commissioning of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Skills acquisition Centre initiated by office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs)

          Represented by his deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Governor noted that recent study shows that SMEs contributed 48 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 96 percent of businesses in Nigeria and 84 percent of employment, adding that the statistics has proven that the future of most youths, especially Corp members who passes through the orientation camp lies in the SMEs sector. 

          The fact, he said has also been identified in Nigeria education sector, as entrepreneurship studies are now included as compulsory subject in the West African School Certificate Examination curriculum and in higher institutions. 

          "On assumption of office, the State government opened a job portal which about 150, 000 youths registered within six weeks, but because there were no job opportunities both in  government and large enterprises to absorb all the registered youths, the Governor directed the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to look at how the youths can be engaged and empowered to be business owners, in order to create wealth for themselves, through SMEs, we came up with SMEs clinic in collaboration with SMEDAN",  Abiodun said.

          He explained that the government has a vision to create enduring economic development and individual prosperity for the citizens, with a view to eradicate poverty, provide security and generally make the State enjoyable for everybody.

          Governor Abiodun  explained that the present administration has also created the State Youth Employment Scheme, where youths were trained on different skills, so as to have a  productive economic life.

          In her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), Mrs. Adejoke Adefulure, said the main purpose of the Centre is for the youths to shun all forms of crimes, adding that investing in youths would eradicate poverty, as well as reduce unemployment in the country.

          She stated that SDGs has empowered 800 Corp members in all skills and enhanced youth development, through promoting life style, urging the youths to use the opportunity of the Centre to learn at least a skill, so that they could become  employers of labour.

          Also speaking the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, HRM Oba Babatunde Ajayi, described NYSC as the best scheme in the country, because it has  helped youths to acquire more skills, thereby reducing unemployment in the country.