Date: 2018-03-27

Amb. Uthman Abdul-Azeez, the National President, llorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), on Monday expressed worry over increasing rate of poverty and unemployment among indigenes of the emirate. Abdul-Azeez spoke at a maiden interactive session organised by the union with professionals from various fields who hail from Ilorin Emirate. Youths in Owerri Sunday morning.

According to him, many indigenes of the emirate are living in abject poverty with many graduates of over seven years still unemployed. "So, many indigenes of the emirate cannot afford at least two meals per day, and with at least 10 graduates in many compounds who are unemployed," he said.

AbdulAzeez charged the professionals and privileged Ilorin descendants to assist in ensuring total elimination of poverty, youth unemployment and insecurity in the emirate. He said that no government could singlehandedly cater for all the needs of people, hence, the need for privileged members of the community to assist.

In his remarks, the National Secretary of the union, Prof. Abubakar Sidiq Afuku, called on professionals to complement the efforts of the union toward eliminating hunger and unemployment in the emirate.

Also, Alhaji AbdulKadir Oba, a chartered accountant with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), urged unemployed youths to de-emphasis clamour for white collar jobs, which he said, were not available. Oba advised youths to embrace entrepreneurship to improve the economy of the state and create employment opportunities for others.

Commenting, Alhaji Shehu Adebayo Magaji, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, called on the IEDPU to always take part in the maintenance of the llorin Central Mosque. Magaji described the central mosque as one of the heritage of the llorin emirate which must not be abandoned.