The Okun Development Association (ODA), the umbrella socio-cultural organisation for all Yoruba speaking people in Kogi State has been called upon to create a job centre should as a matter of urgency to address the crushing rate of youth unemployment in the area.
This was part of the recommendations contained in the report of the ODA Reforms Committee submitted to the Association’s President-General, Ambassador Rotimi Akenson in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee further recommended that the Centre, when established, should be manned by a retired public service officer of not below the rank of a Director who must have information technology skills and be passionate about youths and their advancement.
With a physical headquarters in an appropriate location in Okunland, the centre, according to the committee should have a strong online presence and should be able to network efficiently with the leading lights of Okunland in the private and public sectors who might have easy access to employment opportunities.
To underline the importance of the unit to the activities of the ODA, the committee recommended that the head of the Centre should present a report at the annual meeting of the association.
The centre should also establish a data base of unemployed Okun youths and update it periodically.
The committee also made some recommendations about possible amendments to the ODA’s constitution, structure and governance system to make the Association more relevant to the needs of the people of Okunland.
Receiving the report at a ceremony, Ambassador Akenson thanked the members for doing a thorough job and for completing the assignment within the time frame given to them.
Ambassador Akenson said the National Executive Committee of the ODA under his leadership decided in its early days to set up the committee as a way of rejigging the association.
He thanked the Chairman of the Committee, Barrister Shola Ojo and his members for accepting the assignment with a sense of responsibility and completing the job on time.
He promised to forward the report to his executives for further action.
In his address, Barrister Ojo thanked the President-General for entrusting such a sensitive and challenging assignment to his team.
Those present at the ceremony included Ambassador Akenson, Barrister Shola Ojo, Prof Mike Ikupolati, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, Hon Dayo Akanmode and Hon Bolanle Bolasaiye Amupitan.
