UK Firm, Others Aim To Stem Nigeria’s Youth Unemployment, Medical Tourism

On Tuesday, HP Kapital LTD, a United Kingdom-based firm and FHT Ventures Plc unveiled plans for the empowerment of 70 million youths in Nigeria and the cessation of medical tourism abroad by Nigerians.

While addressing a world press conference on the plans, Mr. Nandishwar Kaushal, the Group Chairman of HP Kapital UK, said that the sum of $500million (N3billion) had been sourced from World Bank and other global development institutions as a take-off fund. He explained that the entire plan was mainly focused about rebuilding Nigeria by making necessary interventions in critical areas of youth unemployment and medical tourism abroad by Nigerians challenged in one way or the other by ill-health.

“Nigeria for several years now has not been fully supported the way it deserves, particularly in the area of Youth Empowerment or engagement and World Class Medical Centres where any form of health challenges can be diagnostically and clinically attended to. In addressing the challenges in the two areas mentioned, hectares of land have been secured in Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Enugu and the Niger States for the establishment of world-class hospitals and tertiary institutions with technology and skills-driven curriculum. The hospitals in the plan will be anchored on self-sustainability in terms of electricity supply and operationally Holistic in terms of Medical and Health care service delivery with the inclusion of natural herbal medicine.

“For the teeming unemployed youth in the country, empowerment programmes in the areas of Agriculture, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) etc, will be carried out of which projected 10million youth will entrepreneurs and 60million others, gainfully empowered or engaged. The intervention plan will also help government at various levels to practically address the 20million Housing deficit in the country with the building of affordable houses for the needy,” he said.

Prince Olubunmi Faboro, the Chairman of FHT Ventures, made further explanations on the intervention plan and stated that the required collaborations with relevant government agencies have been made. According to him, “Relevant government agencies have been contacted and keyed into the plans.”

While he disclosed the level of these collaborations, Hon Osita Opara, a chartered broker and projects coordinator for the intervention plans, stated that the 18 hectares of land in Guzape, Abuja, had been secured for world-class hospital, 13 hectares of land in Guzape Extension, had been secured for hotels, malls and offices. Others are 30 hectares of land in Lagos, and 1.7 hectares of land in Central Business District Abuja for the building of 22 storey structures with residential, hotel and office compartments etc.

“No issue with land allocations as far as the planned intervention projects are concerned.”