The Executive Secretary of the People Expertise and Excellence Foundation (PEEEF), Dr. Musa Rabi’u, has emphasized the need for skills acquisition for self-dependence to earn a living as part of efforts to reduce poverty in the country.
Dr. Musa Rabi’u made this statement today during the 3-day National Conference on Skills Acquisition organized by theProgressive Institutein Abuja.
He noted that skills development among Nigerian youth will propel the country’s economic standard in the near future.
Dr. Musa, who chaired the session with the theme “Identifying Key Skills for the Future of Work,” urged youth to look inward and explore opportunities to make a living rather than sitting idle, seeking non-existent white-collar jobs, and complaining about bad leaders and poor governance.
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In his speech earlier, Professor Ibrahim Adam Muhammad, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Development at Federal University Dutse, emphasized the need to re-adopt traditional skills with modern modifications as key to youth securing job opportunities.
Adam Muhammad stated that skills like cosmetology, barbing, hairdressing, tailoring, catering, phone repair, and carpentry will continue to play a vital role in societal development and should be given the necessary priority.
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He added that the conference serves as an eye-opener for attendees.
“This conference is part of stakeholders’ efforts to reduce poverty in society. Many are jobless today, and people complain about bad government and leaders, but they don’t think about what they can do for themselves. The government cannot do everything, so we should look inward and explore opportunities to make a living on our own. If help comes, it will be a plus,” Professor Ibrahim Adam Muhammad said.
Concluding the session, former Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Professor Olu Aina, stated that policies and strategies need to change to address the current unemployment challenges in the country.
Olu Aina noted that although degrees and Higher National Diplomas are important, there is a need to prioritize skills acquisition in the curriculum.
“Shifting our focus to skills acquisition will help us achieve our dreams,” Prof. Olu Aina said.
