NSUK VC urges youth to acquire skills to combat unemployment.

The Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University(NSUK), Keffi, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan-Liman, has urged youth across Nigeria to pursue relevant skills as a means to combat the ongoing issue of unemployment.

She made this appeal on October 14, during the ‘Exhibition of Students’ Products 2024,’ organised by the university’s Department of Entrepreneurship Studies in the Keffi local government area.

Highlighting that not everyone will secure a traditional white-collar job, she stressed the importance of young people dedicating themselves to developing their skills and talents to enhance their livelihoods

Hassan-Liman also called on political leaders to support youth by regularly organizing skill acquisition programs that would empower them to become self-reliant and financially independent, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to societal growth.

She commended the lecturers and staff of the entrepreneurship department for their dedication to preparing students to become future employers.

“In today’s Nigeria, as a student, it is important to learn a skill that will prepare you ahead so that after graduation, you will be able to set up your own business and start earning while searching for any job of your choice.

“The skills that you all have learnt should be practised to the extent that you will become employers of labour. I can assure you that with the skills you have acquired, you are already on the way to taking Nigeria to greater heights,” the VC added.

On her part, the Head, Department of Entrepreneurship Studies at the university, Dr. Monica Agu said the exhibition was a platform for the students to share their unique perspectives through innovative solutions, artistic expressions, and technological advancements.

She added: “The problem nowadays is that many students are without skills, and after graduation, they will begin to go all around the streets looking for white-collar jobs. They must learn skills so that when they graduate, they will be able to open up their businesses and become employers of labour.

In their separate remarks, a former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the state, Hon. Musa Sulaiman; the Registrar of the university, Dr. Bala Isyaka Ahmed II who was represented by Comrade John Danladi Efuna; the Bursar, Comrade Murtala Kana; the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Yahaya Muhammad; the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Abdullahi Adamu Suleiman, among others, commended the students for acquiring relevant skills that will make them self-reliant in the nearest future.

Earlier in his speech, the course lecturer, Dr. Vincent Paul, while expressing his gratitude to all the dignitaries for attending the exhibition despite their busy schedules, mentioned the skills the students learned including Paint making, soap making, Photography, Baking, Fashion design, Graphic design, Event management and planning, among others.

He noted that the students were taught quality skills to ensure quality production and marketing of the produced products to complement the efforts of the government and the private sector in their bid to provide quality service to the citizens of the country.