Growing graduate unemployment in South East disheartening, Zinox boss cries out to FG
Zinox Group chairman and pioneer investor in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Mr. Leo-Stan Ekeh has raised fresh alarm on the unprecedented surge in graduate unemployment in the South East.
Speaking at a two-day convention, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Ekeh, who doubled as the Chairman of the occasion, argued that “unemployment situation in the region is a ticking time bomb and a growing social problem of immense ramifications which may see all-inclusive peace elude the nation, if not urgently addressed”.
The event organized by the Owerri People’s Assembly (OPA), the apex socio-cultural group for the zone, witnessed the attendance of leaders of through and political heavyweights from the axis.
According to Ekeh, “The problem of massive unemployment facing the South East region is one that requires concerted efforts from the Federal Government and other stakeholders.
“A situation, in which thousands of qualified graduates, most of them with upper class degrees, are still looking for their first jobs 10 or 12 years after leaving school, is highly worrisome. It is a suicidal situation; one that will potentially explode in disastrous consequences, if not immediately addressed.
Continuing, he averred that “If you rely on statistics, there are over a million of such unemployed graduates in the South East. Having such a huge number of active yet unengaged youths concentrated in the region is a serious cause for concern and the Federal Government has a role to play in nipping this situation in the bud,” he stated.
While agreeing that a lot is being done by private individuals and entrepreneurs from the region to ameliorate the situation, Ekeh noted that their efforts are grossly insufficient and urged the Federal Government to partner with such well-meaning Nigerians to achieve more.
