Youth inclusion advocate in Niger Delta is advocating for free skills acquisition and vocational training for Youths in the Niger Delta in addition to their first degrees and university certificates
.
The Rivers State chairman of Niger Delta Youths movements NDYM Tamunoimama Tamunobelema stated this at the graduation ceremony of one hundred fifty youths trained in marintime, ICT, AI and safety skills held in Port Harcourt.
He said the society we live in is fast paced as such youths need serious upgrades in skills relevant to what will make them employable.
He said most companies in Nigeria when advertising for job openings will require five years experience and asked how can a fresh graduate get such years to practice or become employed? Without the necessary skills?
He said “Two weeks ago we started this training,to train over two hundred youth of Rivers State in various sector like the oil and gas, maritime sector.
“Today, we are graduating them,giving them a global recognised certificate for the programme.
“We are doing all these things to engage the youth because we all know the state we are today. The Youth are left behind in the scheme of things.No programme for the youth, no resource centre for the youth .No where to engage the Youth.
“What do you expect.? Anybody who is not rightfully engaged, the society is going to engage him and when the society engage such person, what do you get?You get thuggery, drug addicts, bandits and people who become a menace to the society. That is why NDYM is doing everything to engage these people because an idle mind is a willing tool for criminality.
The NDYM boss further hinted that “This is the first stage and first graduates, we are going to the second phase of what NDYM needs to do and that phase is get a skill. Every Youth in Rivers state should get a skill. Education is good but when people graduate what is the possibility of getting a job.
“The company will tell somebody who left school this year that they need somebody with five years experience.How will the person get five years experience, when the person is not employed and being trained.Even the company is becoming a problem to the Society.
“That is why we put this training together,to make the youth have knowledge the company feels that should have.
“Vocational skill is very important.When they give you the basis,learn how to develop it” he said.
Also speaking at the sidelines of the event, the Public Relations Officer of NDYM in Rivers State, Michael Wofuru disclosed that the journey was not easy as their appeal to individuals and companies for collaboration and synergy was to no avail.
“We actually tasked ourselves individually to make sure we contribute to the programme.Most times our youth out of idleness engage themselves in criminality. We as NDYM is saying no, let us join hand to mitigate youth restiveness.
“That is why we conducted this training,so that whenever we go to the company to agitate for employment, at least we will have something to present” Comrade Wofuru said.
Our correspondent reports that award was given to four best outstanding students, from the program, namely 1. Olaka favour, 2. Cotterell Harry,J 3. osiah Edward and 4. Iyabi Ayebakuro.
Mr Ayebakuro who spoke on behalf of others said emerging as outstanding students has to do with hard work,determination and resilient while promising that they will put to good use the knowledge gained from the training.