Recession: We have taken measures to curb unemployment-Ayade

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Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state yesterday in Calabar reassured

Cross Riverians that his government has taken all the necessary actions to

prevent loss of jobs in the state as the country battles economic

recession.
Giving this assurance at the opening ceremony of a 3-day high-level

training workshop for gender desk heads in ministries, departments and

agencies in the state at the Transcorp Hilton, Governor Ayade said it is

no hidden fact that our country is currently experiencing an unemployment

challenge.
“The situation is further exacerbated by the present economic recession

which has caused many private businesses to fold up across the country. As

a government, we must at all levels, take necessary actions to stem the

situation if we must avoid the catastrophe of other challenges that may

arise from the unemployment situation,” he said.

He disclosed that his administration’s goal in establishing the Calabar

Garment Facctory, which is reputed to be one of the largest in the world

as well as other on-going initiatives are geared towards employment

generation for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and wealth

creation.
Ayade, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu, said:

“Conscious of the need to address the hitherto inherent bias against women

in employment matters, my administration has dedicated 90 percent of

employments into the ultra-modern Cross River Textile and Garment Factory

to women, notably, widows and other vulnerable persons in the society.

“The idea is not to create another inequality in the system, but to

balance the present proportion of women to men in the state's civil

service. Going forward, we shall ensure a proportionate engagement of both

women and men into all spheres of our state economy.

Governor Ayade said the decision of his administration to create a

distinct department on Gender was borne out his conviction that all impact

of all policies and programmes on women and men should be considered at

every stage of policy planning, implementation and evaluation, with a view

to promoting equality between both sexes and combating gender based

discrimination.
“Building upon the huge attention accorded to gender parity by the

immediate past administration, we have taken practical steps to ensure

active women participation in all sectors of administration in the state.

A great percentage of female appointees hold key and strategic positions

in crucial MDAs and I am happy to note that they are so far all performing

excellently well,” he stressed.
Earlier in her presentation at the event, the Special Assistant on Gender

Development, Helen Isamoh commended Governor Ayade for his commitment to

issues of gender development and assured him of total support of all

womenfolk in the state.
She said the training will have a huge positive impact on gender

mainstreaming in government ministries and departments.

In her goodwill message at the workshop, the Commissioner for Women

Affairs, Mrs Esther Odey praised Governor Ayade for making the 35 percent

affirmative action on women a reality in the state with th appointment of

women into key sensitive positions in the state.
She further commended the governor for empowering women in the state

stating that his action has gone a long way in addressing gender

inequality in the state. The representatives of someĀ  international

agencies like CUSO,PIND and HFC 360 were actively involved the workshop.

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