Experts charge youths on skills update

To succeed in businesses, careers or professions, youths in the country have been urged to build up skills that will help them develop and exploit available opportunities.

The call was made at the 6th edition of Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) held virtually by the Rose of Sharon Foundation (ROSF) in response to the current global economic outlook resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the theme ‘Building Personal Competence to Harness Existing Opportunities in the Time of Change’, Business Development, Procurement and Human Resources Expert, Mr. Adeoti Adeleke Temitayo said competency is a never-ending cycle that must be updated to remain relevant in the 21st century.

He said: “By the year 2022, at least 54 per cent of the global workforce would need to update or entirely change their skills to remain relevant in their careers, businesses and professions due to technological advancement and digitalisation. Therefore, the future does not belong to the well-meaning, it belongs to those who are very good at what they do.”

Also, Lead Consultant, Epic Joy Consulting, Mrs. Nkechi Joy Owo stressed the human ability to adapt to change despite the magnitude of any challenge faced by mankind.

In her words: “Life is being reshaped by major trends and events such as globalisation, terrorism, climate change and in recent times COVID-19.

“Consequently, life will not give you what you deserve but what you demand. Understanding your area of specialisation and building skills that will enable you to grow as well as succeed in your chosen profession is essential. Youth must build digital skills, emotional intelligence, leadership and innovative skills to enable them to access the available opportunities presented by the recent change.”

Head of Partners Relations, Christian Broadcasting Network Africa, Mr. Enoch Adewunmi Oyeduntan stressed the need for youth to identify their strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats to enable them to employ available technology to develop as well as leverage on their competencies.

He also advised them on the importance of developing customer relationship skills, as this is essential for succeeding in any career, business or profession.

Founder of the foundation, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, in her welcome address, spoke on the importance of technology and its role as society adjusts to the new normal presented by the Coronavirus.

She said: “For any individual or organisation to stay relevant, they must be ready to adapt quickly to the changes presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A major landmark of our current environment is the high dependency on technology to transact business, carry out social interactions and conduct religious services. Today, the Rose of Sharon Foundation is not left out as we are adapting to the new normal by holding our Youth Empowerment Programme virtually.”

The YEP is foundation’s career development and capacity building programme for graduates, job seekers, working-class and self-employed youths.

The event had youth in attendance from across the country.