Senator Steve Karimi Addresses Concerns on Student Bursary and Employment Opportunities
Senator Steve Karimi has issued a statement clarifying the recent developments regarding his student bursary program and efforts to tackle youth employment issues within the region.
The Senator’s remarks come in response to concerns raised by the public, following recent developments and challenges faced in implementing these initiatives.
On the subject of the student bursary award, Senator Karimi acknowledged the positive intent of the program, which was designed to help students access financial support for their studies. He highlighted that a dedicated website was created to make the application process more transparent and accessible.
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However, the Senator did not shy away from addressing the issues faced last year, revealing that fraudulent activities were discovered during the execution of the bursary scheme.
“I am sure you will agree with me that supporting our students is a good cause. We set up the website with the aim of making the process as simple and fair as possible”
However, last year’s program faced challenges, and we discovered some fraudulent activities. In fact, I had to remove the coordinator of the scheme after the discovery of this fraud. I take this matter very seriously, said Senator Karimi.
He further clarified that the over 100 million spent on last year’s bursary program was not government funding, but his personal, hard-earned money. “The funds used last year were my own; they were not from the government. I am a taxpayer, and no one is more disappointed than I am to see hard-earned money wasted. That’s why we are committed to improving this initiative, ensuring that such issues do not occur again.
Despite these setbacks, the Senator reassured the public that the bursary program for this year would be revamped to be more efficient and secure. I am not discouraged by the actions of a few shameless individuals who tried to steal from us.
This year’s bursary program will be better, broader, and by God’s grace, we will be spending more. We have made improvements to the website and streamlined the decision-making process, so it will be easier for us to monitor and distribute funds effectively.
Regarding the issue of youth employment, Senator Karimi acknowledged the tough economic situation faced by many across the country.
He recognized that while job opportunities remain limited, his office has been doing its best to provide support and create opportunities for employment, particularly in local government areas.
The employment situation is challenging across the nation, and yes, there are not enough jobs to go around.
‘However, we are committed to ensuring that the opportunities available are distributed fairly and equitably across all local governments. We have been able to provide some job placements here and there, but this is not enough, and I understand the frustrations that come with that’
Senator Karimi shared his plans for a more comprehensive initiatives to address youth unemployment by empowering young people to become self-employed.
He revealed that his office is currently working on a new program that will provide the necessary resources and support for youth and men to start their own businesses.
‘This is an initiative I have been personally committed to. I am in the process of planning a scheme to encourage and support our youth and men to become self-employed.
‘It is still in the planning stages, and we are in discussions with consultants to ensure the program is successful. This initiative will require substantial funding, but by God’s grace, we will see it through. Once it’s fully implemented, it will provide critical funding for business startups and enable many to gain the independence they need.
The Senator reaffirmed his dedication to addressing the challenges his constituents face and stressed that this new initiative would create long-term opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.
Senator Karimi’s office continues to work hard to ensure that both the bursary program and employment initiatives meet the needs of the community. With a firm commitment to improvement, the Senator assured the public that these programs would be better in the coming year and would have a lasting impact on the region’s youth.
“I remain committed to the well-being and development of my constituents, and I will not allow the actions of a few dishonest individuals to deter me. With God’s guidance, I will continue to work toward the betterment of our community, providing our youth with both financial support for their education and opportunities to thrive in business and employment.
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Fanodun Akintoye Sunday
Kabba/bunu local government
