Govt seeks stakeholders’ collaboration in harnessing youths pential

The Federal Government has urged all stakeholders to join hands to harness the potential of Nigerian youths for socio-economic development.

Speaking while commemorating the 2021 World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) in Abuja on Thursday, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Nebolisa Anako, said the WYSD, which is an annual global event set aside by the United Nations in December 2014, is aimed at achieving, among others, better socio-economic conditions by enhancing the employability of the youth as a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and underemployment. 

The Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion Department of the Ministry, explained: “The commemoration is done today in Nigeria, in line with the permission of the United Nations to allow member states to celebrate at a day of choice.”

On the theme of the 2021 WYSD, which is ‘Reimagining Youth Skills Post Pandemic,’ Anako said: “The United Nations recognises the significance of skills acquisition to enhance the employability of the youth and the ability to make life and work choices and access to changing labour market.’’
 
The UN, according to him, “designated the day to seek and generate greater awareness on the importance of technical, vocational education, and training and the development of other skills relevant to both local and global economies.”

In his goodwill message at the occasion, Officer In Charge, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, Dr. Dimitry Sanga, who was represented by Nneka Okafor, gave assurances that UNESCO would continue to actively engage and support youth skills and creativity through its technical and vocational education training programme in the country.