FG seeks synergy on harnessing youth potential

By Saheed Afolabi

The Federal Government has reiterated the need for collaboration and synergy of efforts amongst relevant stakeholders to harness the potential of the youths in the country towards achieving the objective and aspiration for socio-economic development.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako, stated this on Thursday on the occasion of Commemoration of the 2021 World Youth Skills Day held at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Speaking on the objective of the World Youth Skills Day (WYSD), the Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director, Enterprise Development & Promotion Department of the Ministry; Mr. Anako emphasised that the goal of WYSD, which is an annual global event set aside by the United Nations in December 2014, is to achieve, among others, better socio-economic conditions by enhancing the employability of the youths as a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and under employment.

In the course of entrenching its importance, the Permanent Secretary stated further that ‘’the Commemoration is done today in Nigeria, in line with the permission of the United Nations to allow member states to celebrate at a day of choice’’.

While speaking on the theme of the 2021 WYSD – ‘’Reimagining Youth Skills Post Pandemic’’, Anako said ‘’the United Nations recognizes the significance of skills acquisition to enhance the employability of the Youth and the ability to make life and work choices and access to changing labour market.’’

The UN, according to him, designated the day to seek and generate greater awareness on the importance of technical, vocational education, and training and the development of other skills relevant to both local and global economies.

While extolling the virtues in collaboration amongst relevant stakeholders to realise and actualise the lofty goals embedded in the thematic message of this year’s WYSD commemoration, he explained that it would, among others, challenge all the stakeholders for enhanced commitment to skills development particularly among the Youth which constitute almost 65% of the country’s population.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, Dr. Dimitry Sanga, who was represented by Nneka Okafor, Officer In Charge, Social and Human Sciences UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, gave assurances that UNESCO actively engages and supports youth skills and creativity through its Technical and Vocational Education Training Programme in the country.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), said that the NDE is poised to continue to sustain the fight against unemployment through self-Employment initiatives and investing in the Youth.

Other goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the ILO, NYSC, SMEDAN, UNIDO, UNDP, Fed. Ministries of Information & Culture, Labour, Science & Tech. ITF, SDG and CEO, World Skills Network.