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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
To tackle the growing unemployment and crimes in the country, the Rotary Club of Abuja, Lugbe and the Rotary Club of Abuja, Asokoro Diamond, have advocated promotion of skills acquisition and entrepreneurship, especially among young people.
This is as both groups partnered to organise a one-day skills acquisition programme for secondary school students in Abuja.
Speaking during the programme at the Government Secondary School, Lugbe, Ms Adeleke Shola Ayanronke, President, Rotary Club of Abuja, Asokoro said education was no longer enough as people now needed entrepreneurial skills that would empower them to become job creators rather than job seekers.
She noted that unemployment posed a significant challenge in Nigeria today, which has led to economic instability and social unrest.
Ayoronke said that by empowering young people with entrepreneurial skills that are in demand in the job market, unemployment and crime rates can significantly be reduced.
She said: “We are here to teach our Intaractors and students of GS”.
Ayoronke said that by empowering young people with entrepreneurial skills that are in demand in the job market, unemployment and crime rates can significantly be reduced.
She said: “We are here to teach our Intaractors and students of GSS Lugbe how to produce some products such as liquid soap and bleach for house use, and also commercialize it and be doing it on the side while facing their studies.
“In Nigeria today, I believe that education alone is not enough. We need hand work. We need to teach our children skills just like what we are doing to prepare them for a future of self sufficiency.”
Similarly, Taofeek Mogaji , Past President, Rotary Club of Lugbe FHA said it was early development of entrepreneurship mindset among school aged kids was necessary to promote creativity and innovation.
Mogaji who lauded the recent government’s initiative to certify artisans, said this would go a long way in curbing the exodus of young people from Nigeria to other nations in search of greener pastures as well as boost the economy.
He said: “I would say that the youths should keep hope alive. Nigeria is a vast country that even the foreigners whose countries we go to also struggle to get Nigerian visas because they know that Nigeria is the land of milk and honey. So, I urge the youths to see that there is a future in this country. Let’s go into manufacturing, innovation and technologies that can drive other parts of the world to come and see that Nigerians can also do it well.
“Like what the federal government is doing, trying to ensure that artisans are certified. It is applaudable. This will help to bridge the gap between those who really know the job practically and those who only know it theoretically. So, I believe this will help boost Nigeria’s economy and boost innovation because we have the manpower which is majorly in the informal sector. So certification will help artisans in Nigeria be able to compete favourably with their counterparts in other climes.
On her part, Ms Adetundun Adeyemi Ayeni, Rotary President of Rotary club of Abuja, Lugbe FHA said the organisation had six core areas of focus which are spread across the various months of the year.
According to Ayeni, the theme for the month of January was vocational training aimed at impacting knowledge and empowering individuals, especially young people.
She described the Lugbe FHA Rotary as a community build club that is dedicated to helping vulnerable people in the community.
“We are having a skill acquisition program. I’m Rotary, this month is vocational month. So we can impact knowledge to the students.
“You know Rotary has six core areas of focus and this vocational training is our sixth project since July. We have had health related programmes such as child and maternal care, tree planting and other environmental activities amongst others.” She stated.
