By Ibironke Ariyo
The Yusuf John-Suberu Foundation has tasked Nigerian youth to acquire relevant skills to reduce unemployment and contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic development.
The Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr Yusuf Suberu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja in commemoration of the International Youth Day (IYD).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IYD with theme:”From Clicks to Progress: Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”, is to amplify the message that action is needed across all generations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
The first IYD was observed on Aug. 12. 2000.
Suberu said that skills acquisition was key to unlocking opportunities and driving innovation.
He said that the 2024 IYD theme, ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development highlighted the intersection of youth, digital innovation, and sustainable development.
He also said that the theme emphasised the crucial role young people played in using digital technologies to drive sustainable progress.
He added that technical and vocational skills have become imperative to bridge the unemployment gap in the country, especially among the youths.
He also added that unemployment was a major challenge facing Nigerian youth adding that with the right skills, they could create their own jobs and become employers of labour.
“Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and has one of the largest youth populations in the world.
“The global health and economic crisis have further heightened our national challenge of youth restiveness, agitation and social vices being perpetuated in our society.
“These challenges point to the root causes of widespread poverty, youth unemployment and underemployment.
“We must move away from the mindset of seeking white-collar jobs and focus on acquiring skills that will make us self-reliant,”he said.
Suberu noted that the foundation had trained over 1,000 youth in various skills, including vocational training, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy.
He said that every youth in Nigeria today must determine to be equipped with the technical and vocational skills which were in demand in the national and international labour market.
“With the strides in technology over the last decade, opportunities have opened up for individuals and businesses to operate virtually.
“The demand for Information Communication Technology (ICT) and digital skills is on the increase.”
“The youth are the future of this country, and we must invest in them. We are committed to empowering Nigerian youth with the skills they need to succeed.
“We are also committed to making a difference in the lives of Nigerian youth. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that they have the skills they need to succeed,”he added.
