‘Youth cooperatives will reduce unemployment’

What is your qualifi-cation?I read Theatre Arts and since I graduated more than a year now, I have no job. I have gone to several interviews since graduating but all I receive are promises. Now apart from security work, I am engaged with a foundation aimed at sensitizing the people on social vices through entertainment.While […]

What is your qualifi-cation?
I read Theatre Arts and since I graduated more than a year now, I have no job. I have gone to several interviews since graduating but all I receive are promises. Now apart from security work, I am engaged with a foundation aimed at sensitizing the people on social vices through entertainment.
While searching for job, which areas have you focused on?
I preferred entertain-ment-related jobs. That is why I joined others to form the NGO: ‘Save The Nation, Build the Nation.’ We are using it to sensitize both the youths and the government on social issues. We are saying the bombing, rape and kidnapping going on in this country are enough. We want the youth to stand up from their slumber. We are saying that leaders should support the youths with empowerment.
Have you sent any proposal to any of the government youth empowerment programmes like the Sure-P, YouWin etc?
I have tried several times but did not succeed. I therefore joined others to form this NGO because there are no jobs. We tried YouWin and other agencies but failed to get funding. We have applied to many government agencies; we have been to media houses to sensitise them on our objectives.
You have a National Diploma, what is actually responsible for the gap or discri-mination between polytechnic and university qualifica-tions?
The discrimination against HND holders is real. And this affects the quality of ND and HND holders. I would have preferred to go for B.sc because of the discrimination. I did not witness any discrimination of ND holders during my days in Nasarawa Poly but in the wider society, it is real.
Do you subscribe to suggestions that the rate of crime and violence is caused by youth unemployment?
Yes. There are no jobs for the youths. There are few avenues for youth development. Even those who want to help themselves with petty trading are being harassed by environmental task-force agents and other law enforce-ments. I believe that all these things can make the youths resort to violence and crime.
What do you want the youths to do for themselves?
Let them organise themselves into unions or cooperatives and do something they have interest in.
What do you think they can achieve with the associations?
They can use that to promote their ideas and innovations. Youths have to rise up and not expect the leaders to do everything for them.