Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday said his government would in the next 30 to 60 days create a minimum of 5000 jobs for unemployed youths in the state.

The governor who noted that the state is creating a new crop of youth entrepreneurs through capacity building and access to affor-dable credit funds said, "In Sha Allah, in the next 30 to 60 days, we are going to create jobs for a minimum of 5000 youths".  

He stated this at a one-day technical youth summit for unemployed youths organised by the constituency office of Senator Bukola Saraki representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly.

The summit with the theme; "Youth Unem-ployment in Kwara State: The way forward" drew over 400 participants from across the state and is expected to create jobs in different areas, according to Saraki.  Ahmed who noted that the success in Kwara is not about its resources but being resourceful, assured that the 5000 jobs would be created as promised.

 "We do not say what we will not do. Anything we say is cast in stone. That is our landmark and you must recognise that this thing can only be possible when we have a government of inclusiveness; a government that allows everybody to play a role, not a government that supports a few individuals", he said. Saraki said the state of emergency declared in the power and security sectors should be replicated in the area of unemployment. He said the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria is a threat to the peace and stability of the nation.

He added that though the current unemployment rate in the state is 9 per cent, the second lowest in the country, stakeholders should not sleep with their two eyes closed until every unemployed youth is gainfully employed.

"In as much as it is a national problem, Kwara must strive to even do better by addressing unemployment head on by being creative, thin-king outside the box and finding solutions", he said, noting that entrepreneurship promotion is the new trend to address the unemployment challenge.