IYD: Group advocates skill acquisition to bridge the unemployment gap

By Daniel Kelechi

Engage Youth Africa Initiative (EYAI) a Pan-African, non-governmental organisation, has emphasised the need for skill acquisition to reduce Youth unemployment in Africa, especially in Nigeria.

The Organisation made this call at an event held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to commemorate the 2023 International Youth Day.

The organisation launched 10-week jobs and skills mentorship programme for youths.

Addressing the attendees, the Founder of EYAI, Mr. Gbolahan Oyelakin said, “We feel skills acquisition is a way by which they can productively live a purposeful life.

“So, we created this event to create that awareness and enable the consciousness among them that they need to acquire skills and specific competencies that will give them leverage whether they are students or a young adult that has graduated and is seeking job opportunities or a career path.”

On the mentorship scheme, Oyelakin expressed hope that the programme will transition participants to smart, work-ready leaders who will go on to become employers of labour in the shortest time possible.

He explained that the mentorship programme which will comprise about 10 courses next month, will span from project management to emotional intelligence, to vocational training, and also to technical skills.

“Within each of the courses, we have skills that are associated with those courses, like for instance in project management we have up to like 12 or 15 different knowledge areas skills;you have the leadership skills, you have the critical thinking skills, you have the communication skills, then you have emotional intelligence.”