Rísé.ng, an innovative blue-collar online market source, has unveiled plans to empower 36 million Nigerian youths with capacity building certifications to provide employment and stem brain drain.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rísé.ng, Mrs Olawunmi Akalusi, disclosed this at the official launch of the Rísé.ng app, on Wednesday, in Lagos.
Akalusi said Rísé.ng was created to bridge the supply gap for blue-collar jobs and introduce professionalism to the informal sector.
She said the Rísé.ng empowerment initiative, tagged: “Project Empower” is aimed at addressing the increasing youth unemployment and lack of startup capital.
Akalusi said the initiative would also equip the Nigerian youths with the necessary skills and knowledge to start and manage successfully their own businesses.
“The programme will transform 36 million youths across Nigeria; one million per state, building their capacity through intensive training and internships.
“Thereafter, listing them on the rise.ng platform to reach a wider audience for business opportunities,” she said.
Akalusi disclosed that a proposal was in the offing with Harvard University to train youths for three days to enable them deal with customer acquisition and retention.
This, she said, was to engender business sustainability and equip youths with skills that could be exported and at the same time, build the nation.
She called for partnership across private and public sectors to ensure that Nigerian talents were not exported to other countries to build the country’s blue-collar sector.
“There’s no one to help us build our country if we go out to build other people’s countries.
“We, however, want the government to help the country by first providing electricity and other aspects would follow for the country to be great.
“On our part, we would continue to promote self-employment among Nigerian youths making them viable assets to the country’s economy,” she said.
Today, we are about to launch the 30 year development plan in Lagos that involves the youth and so Lagos is paying significant attention to invest and work together with the youth.
Empowering youths
Lagos State Commissioner, Economic Planning and Budget, Samuel Egube, described Rísé.ng as a solution for the youthful population that would empower artisans and create a market place around work ethics for blue collar jobs.
Egube said the development was in line with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration agenda for youths, particularly with the launch of the 30-year development plan for the state.
He noted that over 50% of the population in the state were young people, adding that the government is paying attention to initiatives around young people that would spur development.
“We are building several stadia, and are working on the technology space to be the technology hub for Africa and it is the reason why we are laying 3,000 kilometres of broadband fibrotic ducts around the city to attract significant investments in huge data centres in the state.
“As we head toward the future, we know that youths own the future and the future belongs to the youth so we are going to be activating several conversations with young people.
“Today, we are about to launch the 30 year development plan in Lagos and that involves the youth and so Lagos is paying significant attention to invest and work together with the youth.
“In Lagos, we want to see Lagos bricklayers, Lagos tillers and Rísé.ng lays the right foundation for that,” he said.
The President, Motormechs and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), Maruf Arowolo, said the platform would enable artisans to get reputable customers, and provide re-orientation to enable them provide up to date services for the betterment of the country. (NAN)
