Oboli Lauds Employability Master Class Platform

Learning is a continuous exercise and when people learn they expand their horizon and think outside the box. This fact was not lost on notable Nollywood actress and director Omoni Oboli and the quality of panelists and guests who turned up at the recent launch of Young Business Leaders of Nigeria (YBLN) at MUSON Centre in Lagos.

YBLN is a network of young business leaders established to evolve creative methods of providing 1.2 million jobs in Nigeria, reduce the rate of unemployment by 3% by December 2016 and 25% by December 2020.

For the actress and the panelists including the Founder/CEO, Digital Jewels, Mrs. Doyin Odunfa, Founder/Principal Partner, George Etomi & Partners, Mr. George Etomi and Country Partner, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Mr. Uyi Akpata, there is so much information available on the internet that would enable people unlock their potentials and break away from the shackles of locked dreams and unemployment.

According to the actress and director of Being Mrs. Elliot, “There is so much information available on the internet. Learning must be continuous. Only then can we continue to expand our ideas and think outside the box. Look at Nollywood, for example; there are millions of jobs in Nollywood – cooks, drivers, make-up artistes and so on. The problem is that too many people want to be D’banj, Omotola, Genevieve and others. They fail to realise that there are tons of other opportunities behind the scene”.

Although Oboli admits that formal education is priceless, she stressed that lack of formal education should never hold anyone back, adding, “Many go to school but are not educated or knowledgeable enough to add value to an establishment. We must have a sense of responsibility. A job is not necessarily sitting behind a desk”.

While a;sp speaking at the event, the host, Temitayo O. Etomi, a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, shared her experiences garnered within and outside the country. Etomi unveiled the Aspiring Entrepreneurship Programme, which is aimed at providing amazing opportunities for young Nigerians.

She stated, “The programme has been scheduled for September 2015. 20 young people will be picked from the north and brought to Lagos to experience business skills, marketing and finance. They will have the opportunity to visit real business locations and interact with business owners on a one-on-one basis. They will be in Lagos for eight weeks. We are targeting 1,000 entrepreneurs by the end of 2017”.

She also unveiled the ‘Employability Master Class,’ which will address skill deficit among Nigerians. She enjoined those looking for employment to register online on the organisation’s website, www.yblnigeria.com.