Tinubu Promises Jobs, Youth Skills as Deloitte Backs Nigeria’s Economic Reforms

…Says Painful Policies Beginning to Yield Results as Global Firm Pledges Support for Employment, Investment

By Franklin Adole
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday assured Nigerians that his administration’s far-reaching economic reforms are beginning to deliver tangible results, promising that the next phase of the government’s agenda will focus on creating jobs, equipping young people with employable skills, and attracting greater investments into the country.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from Deloitte Africa led by its Chief Executive Officer, Ruwayda Redfearn, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu acknowledged that the reforms had imposed hardship on many Nigerians but maintained that they were laying the foundation for sustained economic growth and improved living standards.

The President said the fiscal, revenue, and tax reforms introduced over the past three years had stabilised the economy and were earning increasing recognition from investors and development partners.

“We are following the example of Deloitte’s greatness to change things from the foundation, building the necessary future for our people,” Tinubu said.

“Yes, reforms are difficult. It has not been a McDonald’s customer relationship but a harvester of good things, if implemented well, and that is what we are about.

“The reforms on revenue will continue to stimulate growth. Some issues are difficult because people have had to take the bitter medicine, but it is working well. Nigeria is making serious foundational progress.”

Shifting attention to the country’s youthful population, Tinubu urged Deloitte Africa to play a more active role in helping the government tackle unemployment by expanding training programmes and recruiting more Nigerian youths into its global workforce.

He said Nigeria’s large pool of young people represents one of its greatest assets and should be equipped with skills that would make them globally competitive.

“Deloitte has a good training programme, and I believe you will continue to reflect that,” the President said, recalling his early accounting career in Chicago.

The meeting, attended by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, focused on strengthening collaboration between the government and the private sector to drive economic transformation.

Oyedele urged the multinational accounting and consulting firm to partner with the government in building the capacity of young Nigerians, saying human capital development remained central to the administration’s economic agenda.

Responding, Deloitte Africa Chief Executive Officer, Ruwayda Redfearn, commended the Tinubu administration’s reform programme and pledged the firm’s support in helping Nigeria achieve inclusive economic growth.

She disclosed that Deloitte, which operates in several countries with more than 500,000 employees worldwide, including over 6,000 in Africa, was ready to deploy its global expertise to support Nigeria’s development priorities.

“We are before you to say that we want to serve. We have a local team on the ground that is ready, as well as the global firm, to support you and support your administration as you lead the country,” she said.

Also speaking, Deloitte West Africa Chief Executive Officer, Yomi Olugbenro, said the firm believed the government’s reforms had laid a solid foundation but stressed that greater efforts were needed to ensure ordinary Nigerians felt the benefits.

According to him, the next challenge is to translate macroeconomic gains into improved livelihoods by creating opportunities, attracting investments and delivering the dividends of democracy to citizens.

Olugbenro assured the President that Deloitte would leverage its global experience in supporting governments around the world to help Nigeria unlock greater value from its ongoing reforms and accelerate economic growth.