Minister urges youths to acquire vocational skills
The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has charged Nigerian youths to acquire vocational skills as a means to equip themselves against the unemployment challenges.
The minister gave the charge at a colloquium organised by BTO Youth Development Convention, in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Sunday.
The colloquium was themed, ‘We can evolve: building a prosperous nation, a joint task, the Tunji-Ojo’s model.’
Represented by his Special Adviser on Strategy and Innovation, Prof Mukhtar Abdulkadir, the minister said earning a certificate was not enough but equipping themselves with in-demand skills, especially in Information and Communication Technology would give them an edge in the job market.
He said, “Because of the advent of Artificial Intelligence, you look at most of the graduates today, they are still looking at traditional courses like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, maybe medicine and surgery but if you look at it , the World Economic Forum said in 2023, that by 2030, 83 million jobs will be lost and 95 million jobs will be created.
“What are those 95 million jobs? We’re looking at jobs like artificial intelligence and machine learning experts robotic engineers, cyber security experts, sustainability experts. “Today, lawyers are going to be replaced by social development experts. Some call them social impact experts. What do we mean here? Today, if you go to the internet using this AI tool, just type something, you’ll see the solution. For doctors, if you have a skin disease, go to any AI tool, it will tell you the solution. In the next few years, those jobs will be eliminated .
“You may say, I’ve already graduated, I have a degree in electrical or chemical engineering, I have a degree in law, what do I do? You can actually get a certification. There are certificate programs you can run. Don’t limit yourself, don’t say, I went to university, why should I go for vocational training? No! Because today, as we speak, the world is moving away from certificates, going for skills. That’s why I summarised skills, not certificates. How do you get those certificates? You get them through vocational training”
Tunji-Ojo added that to unleashing the potential of youths was a critical factor in driving national prosperity and global development, as young “people, who constituted a significant proportion of the world’s population, hold the keys to innovation, economic growth, and social transformation.
“However, realising this potential requires more than individual efforts—it necessitates a collective approach that involves collaboration among various stakeholders, including governments, educational institutions, the lll, civil society, and the youth themselves.
“A collective approach is essential because it is a means of encouraging youths to do great things for themselves and also to make great impact in their society comprehensive support systems.
“By working together, different stakeholders can create an environment where youth are supported at every stage of their development, from education to employment. Governments, schools, and the private sector can collaborate to provide quality education and vocational training that is aligned with market demands. This ensures that young people are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce.”
Speaking on his one year in office, the minister explained that the ministry under his watch has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, marked by significant reforms and unprecedented accomplishments.
He enumerated some of the achievements in the office including, “clearance of passport backlogs and issuance of new passports; elimination of 2.5 million NIN modification backlogs; prison decongestion and inmate rehabilitation; launch of the safe school initiative; enhanced emergency and Fire response capabilities and establishment of enhanced e-passport facilities in key embassies among others.”
