Entrepreneur and philanthropist Princess Akawor Dolor has called for greater investment in skills development as a long-term solution to Nigeria’s growing youth unemployment challenge, arguing that practical training and entrepreneurship offer a more sustainable path to economic empowerment than short-term financial interventions.

Princess Akawor said millions of young Nigerians possess enormous potential but often lack access to the vocational, technical and digital skills needed to secure employment or build successful businesses.

According to her, tackling unemployment requires a shift from temporary relief measures to investments that equip young people with practical knowledge, entrepreneurial capabilities and the confidence to create value within their communities.

“Cash can address an immediate need, but skills create a lasting opportunity. When you equip a young person with knowledge and the ability to create value, you give them a foundation that can serve them for a lifetime,” she said.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Luxe by Glamoholic noted that expanding access to vocational training, digital education, mentorship and entrepreneurship programmes would not only reduce unemployment but also encourage innovation and self-reliance among young Nigerians.

She warned that persistent unemployment and economic hardship continue to expose many young people to poverty, social vices and exploitation, making investment in human capital an urgent national priority.

“The greatest investment we can make in young people is to help them discover their potential and provide them with the tools to turn that potential into productivity,” she said.

Princess Akawor described vocational and technical education as essential drivers of inclusive economic growth, adding that equipping young people with relevant skills would strengthen local businesses, improve household incomes and contribute to safer communities.

“A skill is more than a means of earning income. It is a tool for confidence, independence and the ability to solve problems within one’s community,” she said.

She urged governments, private sector organisations and development partners to increase support for skills acquisition centres, innovation hubs and entrepreneurship initiatives, describing such investments as critical to building a more resilient economy.

Princess Akawor also encouraged young Nigerians to embrace lifelong learning and continuously develop new competencies that would enable them to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

“When we invest in the skills of our young people, we are not only reducing unemployment, we are strengthening the economy, discouraging social vices and building a more secure and prosperous Nigeria,” she said.

She maintained that empowering young people with practical skills would help transform more Nigerians from job seekers into job creators, contributing to sustainable economic development and long-term national prosperity.