The Federal Government has said the inclusion of mandatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) training reflects the growing importance of digital literacy and emerging technologies in shaping the future of work.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, said this yesterday at this year’s Job and Employability Fair, organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), in Lagos, with the theme ‘Empowering Talents, Building Skills and Driving Inclusive Growth.’

Represented by the Director, Employment and Wages, Titilayo Ayemoba, the minister said that as AI continues to transform industries and redefine job roles across sectors, empowering youths with competencies is no longer optional but essential.

Dingyadi noted that Nigeria’s endowment with an energetic and innovative youth population whose talents, if properly harnessed, could drive economic transformation, industrial growth and social prosperity.

However, achieving this, he said, required sustained collaboration among government, employers, educational institutions, and development stakeholders to close the skills gap and align workforce capabilities with industry expectations.

He expressed the ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote decent work, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, vocational development and sustainable employment opportunities for all Nigerians.

“We recognise that inclusive growth can only be achieved when every young person, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to opportunities that enable them to contribute productively to national development,” he said.

Director-General, NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, noted that the fair was a deliberate and strategic response to one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation today: unemployment, particularly among the vibrant and capable youth population.

He believed that meaningful employment was not only a pathway to personal dignity and economic independence, but also a cornerstone for national development, social stability and shared prosperity.

Oyerinde said the primary objective of the fair was to bring employers and job seekers into the same space, fostering direct engagement, real-time interaction and immediate opportunities.

He said beyond job placements, participants were exposed to critical insights, career guidance and skills that will position them for long-term success in an evolving labour market.

“Our goal is not just to help individuals find jobs, but to empower them to build sustainable and rewarding careers,” he said, urging all to remain focused on the collective goal of building a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria, where talent is recognised, potential is harnessed and opportunities are accessible to all.

Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr Afiz Ogun, who was represented by Director, Research and Curriculum, ITF, Victor Awoniyi, urged the job seekers to get engaged in skills, learn and build on them, noting that not everyone is suited for white-collar jobs.

In her keynote address, Director, Cluster Human Resources, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Edalyn Hadjula-Legarde, who cited statistics, said about 62.5 per cent of Nigerians earn less than N200,000, while 37 per cent of employed Nigerians earn less than N100,000.

According to her, 0.4 per cent of Nigerians earn above N1 million as income.

Noting that agriculture, telecommunication and trade industries are the largest employers of labour in the country, Hadjula-Legarde said while ICT/telecommunication, banking and health sectors were the top five hiring industries in 2024, sales, finance and engineering had the most vacancies in 2024.