Why youths should acquire vocational skills
The unemployment rate has risen so much that it has dire consequences for the entire nation.Nigeria is a country that is blessed with both human and natural resources and if all these are effectively utilized the rate of unemployed graduates can be reduced. What then can be a respite to this ugly menace? The answer […]
The unemployment rate has risen so much that it has dire consequences for the entire nation.
Nigeria is a country that is blessed with both human and natural resources and if all these are effectively utilized the rate of unemployed graduates can be reduced. What then can be a respite to this ugly menace? The answer is not far-fetched.
Our various higher institutions should be empowered with vocational training education/centers, (VTE) and vocational skills should be made a core course for students irrespective of whatever course they are studying in the university or polytechnic.
Students should then be allowed to choose the skills to acquire. Many of these skills that we have neglected are given priority in advanced countries like China, Malaysia, and Canada. These fields now constitute 70% of their technological development in these countries.
The story was told of one Adegbola olatunji ( not real names ) who became very successful with his carpentry skills. He dropped out of junior secondary school because of poverty but was later able to train himself in the university with is carpentry work.
Parents have concerted and complementary roles to play in this policy. They have to complement government’s efforts in reducing unemployment in our country. They should embrace vocational skills and encourage their children to acquire them so they can have something to fall on when they can’t secure jobs.
They can be self employed they acquire some of these skills.
Parents should also encourage their wards to look beyond white collar jobs and seek alternative means of livelihood.
Balogun is a 200 Level Law student at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.