Skills Acquisition: Group calls for empowerment of Nigerian Youths

A Non-Governmental Organization in Nigeria, the Save Our Heritage Initiative has called for the empowerment of youths through skills acquisition to create wealth and end insecurity in the country.

The group’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms May Ikokwu, who made the call on the occasion of the World Youth Skills Day, in Abuja on Friday, expressed concern over the spate of insecurity, drug abuse and other vices among youths, noting that empowering them with adequate skills was imperative for the country.

According to her, many young persons are wasting away as a result of joblessness, a factor that has been primarily responsible for the increase in crimes such as kidnapping and banditry.

She called on the government to devise means of taking the youths out of the streets through productive engagement.

“Many of the youths roaming the streets are endowed with different talents waiting to be harnessed to national advantage,’’ she said.

Ikokwu urged federal and state governments to act fast, not just to save the youths from redundancy, but create wealth through skills acquisition.

“The youths of today are our future and heritage. It is our duty to ensure that their potentials are fully captured,’’ she added.

The World Youth Skills Day, celebrated annually on July 15, after the United Nations announced its existence in 2014, marks the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

NAN/PIAK