Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has expressed concern over the deficiency of basic skills among Nigerian youths, stating that it hampers their employability.
Emphasyizing the gravity of the issue, he revealed that many private firms now prefer to hire foreigners due to the perceived lack of necessary skills among Nigerian youths.
During a courtesy visit by the National Youth Leaders Forum of all political parties in Nigeria, led by its chairman, Muhammed Awwal Musa, Minister Olawande conveyed his dissatisfaction with the current scenario. He urged the youths to proactively acquire skills that would make them marketable and attractive to employers.
In a statement released by the Head of the Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry, Maryam Umar Yusuf, the minister proposed the initiation of a “One Youth, Two Skills” campaign.
This campaign aims to empower Nigerian youths by compelling them to acquire at least two skills that they can utilize in the job market.
Minister Olawande asserted, “This is why the Ministry of youth development is spearheading initiatives to compel every young person in the country to have at least two skills that they can market.
“With the tagline, ‘One Youth, Two Skills,’ we want to emphasize that it is unacceptable and, indeed, an injustice for a youth in this country not to have a skill that he or she can deploy to earn a decent living,” the Minister Disclosed.
In response, Muhammed Awwal Musa commended the youth minister for his plans to empower the youths. Despite political differences, the National Youth Leaders Forum expressed willingness to collaborate with the Bola Tinubu administration in addressing the critical issue of skills deficiency among Nigerian youths.