News Investigators/ A Don at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Emmanuel Raymond, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace technical and vocational skills as pathways to sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance.
Prof. Raymond, a Professor of Industrial and Technology Education at FUT, made the call on Thursday at the school’s 131st inaugural lecture.
The professor had lectured on the title, “The Marriage between TVET and Job Creation: Let No One Put Asunder”.
TVET stands for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
He noted that the era of relying solely on white-collar jobs had passed, considering the country’s prevailing socio-political and economic realities.
He advised young people to acquire, at least, one technical or vocational skill, to enable them earn a decent living instead of relying on government jobs, which were limited.
Prof. Raymond, however, called on relevant authorities to equip young people with the necessary skills needed to become self-reliant and productive members of society.
“Sometimes jobs are available, but do our youths have the requisite skills to take them? Certainly not, because many still depend on office jobs that are rarely available.
“That is why we are encouraging them to embrace TVET. Instead of relying solely on office work, they should be prepared to work with tools and machines as alternative career paths.
“Once you acquire the necessary skills, you can earn a decent living without waiting for anyone to employ you,” he said.
The professor further stressed that poverty was not merely the absence of money, but the lack of employable skills.
“I have come to realise that poverty is not the lack of money, but the lack of the requisite skills to earn a living.
‘’If you possess the right skills, poverty can be significantly reduced,” he added.
He urged governments at all levels to provide the enabling environment and critical infrastructure needed to support skills development and entrepreneurship, as they could not provide jobs for every citizen.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of FUT, Faruk Kuta, described the lecture’s theme as timely and relevant, noting that it addressed the pressing challenge of unemployment in the country.
Prof. Kuta also encouraged Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition as a practical solution to the shortage of formal employment opportunities.
“With the requisite skills, there is no doubt that many young people will be gainfully engaged, leading to a significant reduction in social vices and insecurity,” he said.
He stressed the need for a change in mindset, urging Nigerians not to depend entirely on government for employment.
“We need to change our orientation. It is not only the government that creates jobs. Individuals can also create employment opportunities through entrepreneurship and innovation.
“This will go a long way in addressing unemployment and promoting job creation across the country,” he said.
NAN