NIGERIA JOINS GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE WORLD YOUTHS SKILLS DAY

The need for youths to identify, develop and take advantage of their skills to benefit themselves and the society has been stressed as Nigeria joins the rest of the global community to celebrate World Youths Skills Day. World Youths Skills Day takes the centre stage on every July 15 as designated by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2014 in Srilanka.

Objective of the day is to raise awareness on the importance of Youths developing skills through entrepreneurial skill acquisition, becoming self employed to reduce unemployment. As World Youths Skills Day is celebrated today, some youths in Enugu metropolis who have been able to recognise and develop their skills through the state government youths empowerment programme speak.

“I got to know about my skill me about the training so I got the form, filled it then choose Cosmetology and Make-Up artistery.”

“I was born into a familywhere is almost like a principle that we cultivate at least 80% of what we eatat a point I discovered that I need to develop it as a skill by going into Agriculture.”

In an interview, the Enugu State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Chuka Ndukwe decried the low level of interest of youths in skills acquisition and urged parents to encourage their children to acquire whatever skills they were interested in.

“Whatever a child wants to do encourage the child on time, there is no job anywhere waiting for anybody, our doors are open for the youths to come, anytime.”

Mr. Ndukwe called on youths in the state to avail themselves of the ongoing skills acquisition programme currently organised by the State Government. A former Director Academic Planning, Enugu State College of Education Technical, Mr. Chidi Ozorchi noted that schools now undertake skills acquisition programme as part by their curriculum.

” Through continous assessment, the teacher looks at  the child and assesses  the child in what he or she feels the child can do.”

However, some students and analyst want the government to ensure that facilities are provided for the skills development programme.

EVELYN AWUNOR