A senior officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service has warned that the failure to equip young people with practical skills could worsen unemployment, insecurity and irregular migration, urging parents to take greater responsibility for developing their children’s talents.

The Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Service, Barrister Danlamin Audi, made the remarks in Minna while speaking on the role of skills acquisition in addressing current socio-economic challenges. He said a skilled and empowered youth population remained central to national progress, security and long-term prosperity.
According to him, reliance on formal education alone is increasingly inadequate in a rapidly changing economy, where many graduates struggle to find employment. He said parents who invest in their children’s talents were not only improving their families’ prospects but also contributing to national economic stability and productivity.

Audi noted that vocational and entrepreneurial skills had become essential tools for self-reliance and innovation, adding that young people trained in areas such as technology, agriculture, craftsmanship, fashion and digital services were better positioned to create jobs for themselves and others.

He commended federal government initiatives on youth empowerment, job creation and entrepreneurship, but said their impact depended largely on how prepared young people were to take advantage of available opportunities. He explained that government programmes could not succeed in isolation without the active support of parents and communities.

The immigration officer encouraged parents to identify their children’s strengths early and guide them towards relevant training programmes, apprenticeships or mentorship schemes that align with those abilities. He said such early intervention would help reduce social vices associated with joblessness and frustration among youths.

Audi further called on parents and guardians to complement government efforts by taking a more proactive role in equipping their children with relevant and marketable skills, describing this as a shared responsibility in driving sustainable development.

He also appealed to community leaders, religious institutions and educational stakeholders to work together to promote creativity, discipline and a strong work ethic among young people, stressing that collective action was needed to build a resilient and productive youth population.