ABA YOUTHS DEMAND ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR SKILL ACQUISITION AS THE WORLD MARK 2022 YOUTHS SKILLS DAY
REPORTER: EJIOFO UMEGBOGU
Youths in Aba, the commercial city of Abia State, have called on government at all levels to provide enabling environment for young people to fulfil their potential through the acquisition of relevant skills for personal development and economic advancement of the country.
They made the call while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the 2022 Youths Skills Day.
An auto-mechanic, Mr. Tochukwu Ajara lamented the gradual elimination of the artisanal class in the society because of what he termed: repressive economic policies of governments.
Mr. Ajara alleged that this had contributed to the high rate of crime in the society as more idle youths indulged in nefarious activities as a means of expressing their energy.
The auto mechanic identified multiple taxations, lack of financial grants to small businesses, and uncontrollable activities of non-state actors as among the challenges inhibiting youths from acquiring entrepreneurial skills needed for national development.
Also, an entrepreneur, Mr. Okezie Ikonne, said it was becoming increasingly difficult to get youths to avail themselves of opportunities to acquire apprenticeship skills.
He stressed that policymakers should do more to encourage young people to go back to entrepreneurial and apprenticeship skills.
Mr. Ikonne urged the government to abolish the policy of demanding landed property and other stringent conditions by financial institutions before granting loans to youths who are the skilled workforce of the nation.
Other youths, who spoke with our correspondent, advised the nation’s policymakers to learn from developed countries of Europe, Asia and America, where the skilled workforce are provided loans as well as investment and research grants without attaching stringent conditions.
World youths day is Celebrated on July 15 each year, to identify, enhance and celebrate the skills and competencies of young people, for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
The theme of the 2022 event is “Transforming Youth Skills for the Future.”
Ejiofo Umegbogu
Aba, Abia State.
