[Mhiz Rebecca]

The spokesperson of the development agency of the
British High Commission in Nigeria, David Smith, in a
response to PREMIUM TIMES’ inquiry said the jobs
would be created through UK government’s LINKS
programme, an initiative to “power economic growth in
northern Nigeria.’
The economy of northern Nigeria, particularly the north
east region, is currently facing serious development
pressures consequent upon ravaging insurgent activities
by religious extremists, Boko Haram.
Apart from the devastation of physical infrastructure and
economy in the region, millions of citizens, including
women and children, have been forced to join the
growing population of internally displaced persons as a
result of herdsmen and farmers conflict.
Prior to her visit to Nigeria last week, UK Prime Minister,
Theresa May, identified Nigeria as home to the largest
concentration of the world’s poorest people, with the
bulk of the population in the north region.
During the visit, the UK Minister of State for Africa,
Harriett Baldwin, who led a business delegation to the
business event as part of the visit, announced a new
£70-million programme to create 100,000 jobs in Nigeria.
Ms Baldwin said the programme would raise the income
of three million people from the poorest parts of Nigeria.
But, giving details on the programme, Mr Smith said the
LINKS initiative is a seven year programme to commence
in early 2019, aimed at supporting job creation and
income generation for the poor, women and those living
with disability in the three northern states of Kaduna,
Kano and Jigawa.
He said implementation of the programme would be
through a contracted service provider, which the UK
government is currently out in the market to recruit, with
the process already in the evaluation stage for the first
bids.
The service provider, Mr Smith said, would propose and
implement the details of the programme, apart from
working with a range of partners, including Centres for
Disease Control (CDC) and the UK Department for
International Trade.
“The provider will also liaise with Nigerian agencies such
as the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC)
and key international development agencies like the
World Bank.
“In a practical sense, LINKS will work by using a range of
approaches such as technical assistance to public and
private sectors, targeted grant funding and fostering
linkages between investors, financiers and firms.
“The programme will focus on three northern Nigerian
states of Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa, with expectation
that it has wider benefits which could spread to other
northern states,” Mr Smith said.
On the types of jobs to be created under LINKS, he said
these would be as varied and diverse as the people of
Nigeria.
Apart from affordable housing, information and
communication technology and even waste management
jobs in urban, rural jobs would cover agricultural supply
chain and processing jobs.
In terms of categorization, the spokesperson said 40 per
cent of the 100,000 jobs would be reserved for women,
while six per cent would go to people living with
disabilities.
Besides, at least 20 per cent of the jobs would be
created in small replicable business models, like
franchises the middle class, diaspora and modestly
wealthy can also invest in.
“So, it’s not just about big business or global leaders.
It’s about real Nigerians,” he said.
Asked whether the initiative was part of a larger attempt
by the UK government to help resolve the poverty
situation the UK PM referred to in her controversial
reference to Nigeria as home to the largest concentration
of the world’s poorest people, Mr Smith said: “Yes,
absolutely.”
He explained Ms May’s government believes the majority
of the income improvements for the poor through LINKS
would come from “identifying innovative technologies or
business models that will improve competitiveness and
productivity across multiple fields, in a way that ensures
the poor share the benefits.”
Apart from testing these and other successful
programmes, Mr Smith said they would help the
entrepreneur or business who has developed the
innovation to take it to the next level through attracting
private investment.
Also, these innovations should expand and improve the
lives of millions more as they spread across the northern
part of the country and beyond.
“The LINKS innovation and investment programme
announced by the Prime Minister is a huge step the UK
Department for International Development is immensely
proud of,” Mr Smith said of the initiative.
“Helping to raise the income of three million people and
create 100,000 vital jobs will transform Nigeria for the
better.
“For the people of Nigeria, LINKS means more, bigger
and innovative firms creating jobs and raising incomes,
both directly and through their supply chains, while
generating higher revenues for taxation. Together, we
can create a Nigeria fit for the future.”
Source:- Premiumtimesng