The Rivers State Government has announced plans to host a Graduate Job Fair on January 22, 2026, aimed at connecting young graduates with employers offering training opportunities, internships, and immediate employment, as part of its employment and youth empowerment agenda for the year.
Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, the State Commissioner for Employment and Empowerment Generation, Chisom Kenneth Gbali, said the job fair is designed to connect young graduates with top employers who will offer training opportunities, internships, and immediate employment across different sectors of the economy.
Dr. Gbali explained that the initiative is targeted at addressing graduate unemployment while also helping employers identify skilled and trainable talents within the state. He urged Rivers youths who are interested in participating to apply through the Ministry’s official website, www.megee.rv.gov.ng.
According to him, the programme has received the full backing and funding support of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to job creation, youth inclusion, and human capital development.
The commissioner said the Ministry is adopting the Quadruple Helix Model, which integrates government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to achieve sustainable employment outcomes and long-term economic growth in the state.
As part of this approach, Dr. Gbali disclosed that the State Government, through the Ministry, has entered into a partnership with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, which represents over 85 major companies operating across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He further revealed that the Ministry is rolling out capacity-building and upskilling programmes in strategic sectors such as oil and gas, marine and maritime operations, the blue economy, information and communication technology ICT, and artificial intelligence, in line with emerging global economic trends.
Dr. Gbali noted that these programmes are aimed at equipping Rivers people with relevant and competitive skills required for the modern workplace. He called on interested individuals to take advantage of the opportunity by registering, assuring the public of transparency and equal access in the selection process.
Commenting on the assessment of the 2025 economy, the commissioner stated that Nigeria’s economy is showing signs of stabilisation despite the pressures experienced by citizens in the previous year. He said macroeconomic indicators point to a gradual recovery, attributing the improvement to reforms in fiscal management and economic restructuring under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr. Gbali cited last year’s large yuletide crowds, reduced urban congestion, and the gradual decline in the prices of staple foods as indicators of economic recovery. He commended President Tinubu for his commitment to reforms and applauded Governor Fubara for fostering a peaceful, stable, and investor-friendly environment in Rivers State.
Describing the peace in the state as “audible to the deaf and visible to the blind”, he credited the governor’s leadership with restoring public trust in government. He also highlighted the ongoing rehabilitation of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex as evidence of the administration’s focus on institutional renewal, good governance, improved service delivery, inclusive growth, job creation, and economic prosperity for all citizens.
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