A total of 500 youths have graduated and received certificates after the training on Cinematography & Photography, Carpentry &Wood work, and Tie &Dye at the Micheal Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies, Ilorin, Kwara State North Central Nigeria.
The 500 trainees were drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country with the view to reducing youth unemployment.
Instructors who taught the Youths basic rudiments in various skills admonished them to start their own business to be self employed in their creative manners.
Speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the graduation, the Director General of the Institute, Comrade Issa Aremu said the institute has identified skills acquisition and entrepreneurship beyond educational certificates as tools to tackle the rising youth unemployment in Nigeria.
According to him, “there is the need to change the narratives of Nigeria as a country from joblessness to gainful employment through skills acquisition in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promote employability through skills acquisition.”
Aremu who lauded the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Labour stated that the skills acquired by the youths would go a long way to reduce unemployment in the country while commending the enthusiasm and commitment exhibited by them during the programme.
The Director General reminded the graduands that knowledge translate to power, confidence and money, adding that they should strive to always upgrade their knowledge.
He added that the mandate of the institute is to continue to train youths on skills acquisition so that they can be self employed and also be employers of Labour.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director/Acting Head of Entrepreneurship Development Department, Mr Raji Ajayi commended the commitment and resilience of the youth to acquire skills on entrepreneurial programmes.
He charged them to use the skills acquired to add value to their lives and the society as a whole.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
