NAN-HG-1
Youths
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, July 14, 2017 (NAN) Mr Simon Dolly, Director-General, Christian, Youth For Peace and Development Initiative (CYPDI), an NGO, on Friday urged youths across the country to acquire meaningful skills to beat unemployment and ensure self reliance.
Dolly gave the advice during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, ahead of the Youth Skills Day scheduled for July 15.
” There are millions of graduates every year from polytechnics, Universities, Colleges of Education and other institutions of higher learning seeking for employment.
“Many graduates have challenges of getting job as they go about submitting applications from one office to the other seeking for employment without much success.
“The reality is that, time of seeking for job is over because government alone can no longer provide jobs for everyone, therefore, it becomes imperative for youths to acquire entrepreneurial skills to make ends meet,’’ he said.
Dolly, however, called on the youths to identify trades such as dressing, fashion, carpentry among others and acquire skills instead of looking for the elusive while-collar job.
The director-general further urged the youth not to be discouraged while learning skills, adding that the experience acquired would add value to their lives and the nation at large.
Dolly advised government to create environment that enable youths realise their entrepreneurial ambition and contribute positively to the social and economic development of the country.
He called on the youth who acquired skill in trades to let such experience bear fruit in their locally produced goods so that such products could compete favourably with similar products at the international market.
The director-general commended the Federal Government for evolving various entrepreneurial schemes to equip NYSC members for them to be self reliant afyer their one year service.
According to him, the various loan schemes being extended to ex-NYSC would go a long way to aid the youths with necessary skills to embark on meaningful businesses that would take them out of unemployment market.
The World Youth Skills Day is aimed at raising awareness on the importance of youth developing their skills. (NAN)
OEO/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Dada Ahmed