The Progressive Governors Forum led by Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, met yesterday in Ibadan and resolved to work with economic experts on formulating policies to stimulate private sector participation in job creation.

Okorocha maintained that the mission of the forum is to collate individual and collective experiences to make Nigeria work again. The governors declared at the first progressive governance lecture series held at the Civic Centre, Ibadan that the current unemployment situation in Nigeria is unacceptable, and poses danger to the social, economic and political stability of the country.

"We can no longer remain insensitive to issues around unemployment and the crisis of governance in Nigeria," they said in a communique issued at the end of the meeting.

In attendance were the host governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo) Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso (Kano) and Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State). The governors of Kwara, Sokoto, Osun and Edo States were represented by either their deputies or other top government officials.

In his welcome address, Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State said his administration had in the last 1000 days redefined the concept of governance by returning peace in the state. While noting that his administration was already building a metropolis that is conducive for business and investment, Ajimobi remarked that the resultant effect is that investors are already capitalising on this to bring businesses to Oyo State.

The guest lecturer at the forum, Mr. Ayo Teriba, an economic consultant who spoke on "Nigeria's High Growth - High Unemployment Paradox", noted with concern that while Nigeria's growth surged in the past one and a half decades, unemployment rate had increased threefold.