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‘Capacity building, skills acquisition key to curbing unemployment’

By Eno-Abasi Sunday
28 July 2016   |   2:17 am
As the nation grapples with swelling unemployment figures among its youthful population, Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu, says skills acquisition...
Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu

Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu

As the nation grapples with swelling unemployment figures among its youthful population, Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu, says skills acquisition, through vocational training and capacity building among others could help drive down the figures.

Adamu, who spoke in Kaduna at the graduation ceremony organised by a non-governmental organisation, Human Resource Development and Empowerment Initiative (HRDEI), in collaboration with NOUN said, “Skills acquisition, capacity building and such other intervention programmes are timely mechanisms at this point in time when unemployment, underemployment and employment mismatches, insecurity and political thuggery are threatening the fabric of the society.”

At the event, where he was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Patrick Eya, he added, “The change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, is passionate about job creation for our teeming youth and this collaboration between HRDEI and NOUN is a practical endorsement of the philosophy of social development side-by-side the impact created this past one year by the wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha M. Buhari, under her “A Future Assured” intervention programme.”

The vice chancellor added that the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies and Lifelong Learning of NOUN, was specifically created to train individuals who desired skills acquisition. “The Centre offers basic lifelong and vocational skills development and standalone certificates and diploma courses to enhance the culture of life-long learning for the unemployed, underemployed youths and even others who wish to augment their competencies in their various work places or want to embark on new career paths.

“Capacity building and such other intervention programmes would guarantee self-employment that would change our youths into agents of job creation rather than job seekers. This skills transfer collaboration between HRDEI and NOUN is well positioned and ready to ensure the success of the president’s agenda of creating job and putting food on the table for the good people of Nigeria.”

In a goodwill message at the occasion, First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who was represented by Amina Abdul said, “When I think of the people this centre have trained regardless of ethnic and political difference, and when I think of the vast number of our people still in need, I am compelled not only to be grateful for the courage and vision shown by Muhammed Ali, but also strongly support such a good cause for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

“I find myself deeply connected to your cause because the services offered by the Centre for Human Resource Development Empowerment Initiative and NOUN are valuable and necessary in our present day Nigeria. To NOUN, I commend you for this collaboration to produce these very laudable results.”

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