By Goodluck Ikiebe.
The Nigerian government has restated 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 the occasion of the Commemoration of 2021 World Youth Skills Day at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Speaking on the objective of the World Youth Skills Day (WYSD), the Permannet Secretary, represented by the Director, Enterprise Development & Promotion Department of the Ministry, Mr. Momoh Olugbenga, emphasized 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 Youth as a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and under employment.
A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Mohammed Manga, noted that 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’’, Mr. 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 realize and actualize the lofty goals embedded in the thematic message of this year’s WYSD commemoration: he explained that it would amongst others challenge all the stakeholders for enhanced commitment to skills development particularly among the Youths, which constitute almost 65% of the country’s population.
In his goodwill message on 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 Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Nuhu Fikpo said that the NDE is poised to continue to sustain the fight against unemployment through self-Employment initiatives and investing in the Youths.
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.
