Job Creation in Focus: How Nigeria’s IPU Triumph Benefits the Workforce

In a significant development, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, made a groundbreaking announcement on Saturday. They revealed that Nigeria had successfully broken a 59-year-old jinx by securing membership in the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) during the 147th Assembly. This remarkable achievement is expected to result in job opportunities for Nigerians.

The IPU, which boasts a membership of 179 countries and has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, welcomed Nigeria into the Executive Committee, a milestone that signals access to crucial global parliamentary decisions.

Addressing journalists upon their return to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja after the event in Angola, the Deputy Speaker expressed Nigeria’s elation with this achievement. He emphasized that Nigeria had rightfully claimed its place on the global legislative stage.

Kalu also extended gratitude to the global community for electing the Speaker of the Tanzanian parliament, Tulia Ackson, as the President of the Union. He underlined the significance of this achievement, as Nigeria aimed to reclaim its position in Africa and on the world stage, particularly in light of its absence from the IPU’s Executive Committee since 1964.

Akpabio, while reflecting on the activities of the Nigerian delegation in Angola, reiterated that Nigeria’s inclusion in the Executive Committee would lead to the creation of job opportunities for its citizens. He emphasized that this was a significant development, considering that Nigeria had been absent from this critical table for nearly six decades.

The President of the Senate and the Deputy Speaker worked in harmony to secure the election of Tulia Ackson as the President of the IPU, making her the first black woman from Africa to hold this prestigious position. Akpabio highlighted the substantial benefits and opportunities that would arise from this achievement, such as the opening of numerous offices, employment opportunities, and the attraction of foreign direct investment. It would also enhance training, retraining, and capacity building, not only for legislators but for individuals across various fields.

In addition to celebrating their IPU success, Senator Akpabio expressed his joy over the recent victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Supreme Court. He considered it a divine mandate and encouraged Tinubu’s opponents to unite with the renewed hope agenda to build a stronger Nigerian economy in the face of economic challenges.

In summary, Nigeria’s historic achievement in the IPU’s Executive Committee is poised to bring forth a new era of job opportunities and economic growth for the nation. The collaborative efforts of Senator Akpabio and Hon. Benjamin Kalu have led to this milestone, marking Nigeria’s return to the global stage and solidifying its influence in world politics and decision-making.