A Nigerian Information Technology giant, Zinox Group has said that it would partner with the Federal Government to create more jobs in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector across the 774 local government areas in the country as part of its efforts to address the challenge of high unemployment rate in the country.

The group said that the plans would see the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and Zinox Group, creating job opportunities for the unemployed Nigerian youths.

This was disclosed when the firm’s management team led by its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in his office.

The minister stated that one of the major challenges facing Nigeria is unemployment which the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is leaving no stone unturned to address holistically.

Ngige reiterated the determina­tion of the government to tackle the scourge of unemployment head-on, adding that the skill acquisition centres spread across the country would be resuscitated for the use for unemployed Nigerian youths to acquire relevant skills.

He assured them that his doors were open to collaborate with any organisation willing to assist in creating jobs, stressing that partnering with Zinox would in no small mea­sure create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

While commending Zinox Group for its immense contribution to the ICT development in the country, he decried that presently, the ministry does not have credible data base of the unemployed in its various forms.

He also stated that the ministry would roll out its programme on employment generation once the 2016 budget is passed.

“By the end of the first quarter, we will hit the ground running,” he promised.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, commended Yudala, one of the Zinox Group arms which according to him, has been able to carve a niche for itself within a short time of its existence, adding that he was proud of the private sector for its contribution to the development of the Nigerian economy.

On his part, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, said the purpose of their visit was to congratulate the ministers on their appointments as well as seek collaboration with the ministry to comple­ment the efforts of the federal government at job creation.

He added that his decision to seek collaboration with the ministry was borne out of the need to reduce unprecedented rate of unemployment in Nigeria, stressing that Zinox Group was willing to partner with the Ministry of Labour and Employment to create jobs in all the local government councils in Nigeria.

He stated that Zinox was looking forward to collaborating with the ministry to achieve a national data base where the unemployed should register their profiles in the various council areas headquarters for easy access to employers, stressing that the platform would create avenues for qualified graduates to be locat­ed for employment irrespective of where they reside. (The Authority)

•Photo shows Zinox Chairman/CEO, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, speaks during the courtesy call on the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and the Minister of State, James Ocholi.