Youth Unemployment: Olota Romances Corporate Organizations In Ota, Canvasses Job Opportunities For Subjects
The Olota of Ota and Olofin Apesin Olode, HRM Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, four quarter Obas in Ota and cabinet chiefs, have on Tuesday, met with corporate organizations whose businesses are domiciled in the state’s commercial capital to canvas for youth employment for his subjects.
Olota, who met with leaders and captains of industries in his palace, demanded employment opportunities, social securities and skills acquisitions through Public Private Partership (PPP) for youth in his domain. He said that for the town to be devoid of social vices and to reduce crime rates, youth must be gainfully employed. “Indigenous youth that serves as host community to industries must be gainfully employed. It frightens and saddens me that despite my avalanche of experience abroad, touring across the world, it is pressing that the indigenous youth in Ota against what is obtainable across the world are not being employed by industries they hosted in their community.
This is not to coerce the industries into employing unemployable youth but to rub minds with the industries to see how to increase employment rate in the community”. He said.
Olota however, acknowledged the federal government for constructing a vocational and skills acquisition center in his doamin. He said that though the building already completed, is yet to be equipped with facilities. According to him, the center is appealing for support, partnership and cooperation with industries.
While responding to Olota’s request, one of the representatives of the corporate organizations in Ota, Mr Bolaji Oyedeko, recounted that he has been involved in major activities in the community vis-a-vis industrial relations. He mentioned and corroborated the alarming rate of insecurity in Ota; praying that the situation should not escalate beyond what it is presently.
He lamented the poor state of roads, infrastructure and social amenities in the community to boost productivity which has forced some industries out of the community. while decrying that the company where he works and several others; are struggling to maintain existing staff, thus making it difficult to impose a fiat for employment. He urged that the indigenes should distinguish themselves and acquire enough skills needed to become employable. He noted that he is encouraged by the standard of the acquisition center which Olota facilitated from the presidency, while urging that the palace should go further to organize a parley with the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) to press home his demand.
The Sona group of industries’ corporate Director, Soji Fagbemi, remarked that Olota has been heard ‘loud and clear’, while assuring that he will go back to his organization and emphasize on how Sona Group will implement, devoid of religion and gender, employment of youth in the town.
Another representative of the corporate organizations, during his remark, said Ota city is blessed and he can confidently attest to that, noting the cosmopolitan nature of Ota which allows the influx of non-indigenes into the town. He allays the challenges they face in implementing corporate responsibilities by citing an example of a melee between his company and some hoodlums, who stopped the grading of a community road because they were not tipped. He applauded the great ideas and agenda of the Olota of Ota, but assured that his organization will continue to dialogue and discuss for further development. He further appealed to the High Chiefs to participate in educating and sensitizing the youth and community members on good behavior, moral ethics in the labour relations with the organizations in Ota.
One of Olota’s Chiefs, High Chief Taofeeq Olanrewaju Bashorun, the Seriki of Ota, during a closing remark, said the community, through Olota’s palace, has over the time, intervened in the impasse between corporate organizations and ‘some faceless hoodlums’ in the community. He appreciated the stakeholders for yielding the call of Olota, assuring them of the later’s support at all time.
Some of those that graced the meeting included but not limited to; Ajana of Ijana, Ota, HRH Oba Clement Akinyemi, Onikosi of Osi, Ota, HRH Oba Sikiru Anibire, Onikotun of Otun, Ota, HRH Oba AbdulAkeem Odunaro, Akogun of Oruba, HRH Oba Abdulwadud Eniatimo Deinde, Ekerin of Ota, High Chief B.A Osunlabu, Iyalode of Ota, High Chief Rufiat Ojugbele, Oluwo of Itoki, High Chief Ganiu Dada, Lisa of Ota, High Chief Dayo Akinde, Area Commander of TRACE, Cmdr. Ajibade, Police, Civil Defense Corps Hierarchy in Ota.
