Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefele,
has enjoined Nigerian Youths to emulate the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigeria’s
foremost industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote saying Nigerian government craved
to have more of him in Nigeria's industrial space
He said the Fedral government
appreciates Dangote’s exceptional business investments dotting the entire
African continent and exemplary humanitarian efforts, pointing out the
government would continue to provide the enabling environment that will give
room for more of Dangotes
The apex bank boss spoke during the
disbursement of funds to the youths to mark the commencement of the CBN’s Youth
Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP).
The programme was instituted to promote
capacity building and funding for Nigerian youths to empower them to be
entrepreneurs rather than seeking white colar jobs.
Emefiele acknowledged the role Dangote
and his many companies have been playing in the employment of labour in Nigeria
and Africa as whole.
It was against this backdrop that Mr.
Emefele further urged the youths to fulfil their dreams, and not just become
entrepreneurs, but also employers of labour saying Nigeria has spent millions
of dollars in forex on importation of foods and other needless items.
According to him, the developed
countries of the world are strong economically because they produce and export
more than they import thus giving them the desired trade balance.
He said this is also the thought line
of the present government and would pursue the task of industrialising Nigeria
throughthe exploitation of the nation's vast mineral resources which haversion
long been neglected.
Mr. Emefiele told the beneficiaries
that the youth entrepreneurs where part of the CBN programme of creating 1
million jobs in the next four years. Said he; “Youth entrepreneurs have been
hindered in the past by lack of capacity and access to funding.
“It is thus a matter of urgency to roll
out the YEDP. Our youths are full of ideas and we want to empower them to
make the dreams realities. “We want to nurture your dreams, not only to be
entrepreneurs but also to become employers of labour.
“We want to raise many
Dangotes from among our youth
entrepreneurs. We want our youths to build conglomerates and
giant companies that can employ millions of Nigerians and produce goods for nor
only local consumption but also for export.”
It would be recalled that the business
mogul had indicated that his new $12 billion three in one project, the
refinery, petrochemical and fertilizer plants currently under construction
would create a minimum of 235,000 new jobs, both direct and indirect jobs, as
it becomes operational in the first quarter of 2019.
Dangote said the refinery would have a
capacity to refine 650,000 barrels a day, while assuring that there will be
market for the refined products because even in Africa, as only three countries
have effective functioning refinery with others importing from abroad.
He disclosed further that the
Petrochemical Plant will produce 750,000 metric tonnes per year (MTPY) of
Polypropylene, while the Fertiliser Plant will produce 2.8 million metric
tonnes per annum (mmtpa) of Urea and Ammonia
Dangote said gas from the Gas Pipeline
Project can supply fuel to Central Power Plants to generate electricity for
households and Nigeria will save over $7.5billion for Nigeria annually, through
import substitution
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