From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Osun State government has expressed its readiness to support the proposed Startup Bill to engage the youths and channel their talent towards the betterment of society.
The Coordinating Director, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kehinde Jimoh, who spoke during the ecosystem engagement on the adoption of the Nigeria Startup Act in Osogbo on Saturday, disclosed that plans had been perfected to ensure the drafting of the act.
He explained that the state government would use the bill to develop the youths and engage them meaningfully.
He said: “What the state is targeting is to ensure that this startup engages the youths and channels their knowledge to something positive.
“For example, those who do ‘Yahoo Yahoo,’ are intelligent people; before you can swindle someone, you must have performed some intellectual Mathematics; but instead of doing this negatively, they will be made to do positive things so that their energy and potential can be tailored towards such that it will address youth unemployment, restiveness, and other bad attitudes are abated.
The Founder, State Adoption Lead at the Nigeria Startup Act, Tracy Okoro-Isaac, explained that the Startup act will reduce the syndromes of ‘Japa,’ and make the youths willing to thrive in society.
She stated that the intention was to create laws and an enabling environment for young people in tech-enabling companies, to thrive.
According to her, stakeholders from different sectors were brought together to enlighten them on how to access funding and support.
She expressed fear that young people were moving out of the country, some to Lagos and Abuja for opportunities, adding “they should stay in their present location to benefit from the Startup act.”