Kaduna State Government says it will shore up youths and women participation in the labour force from 23 per cent in 2019 to 46 per cent by 2030.
The Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology (MBIT) Kaduna State, Mrs Patience Fakai, said the ministry was set to double youths and women employment with a view to bolstering inclusivity.
The commissioner made the disclosure during a two-day Youths Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Summit and World Youths Skills Day celebration organised by Leadstar Interearsity in Kaduna State.
She said that the ministry was determined to build a technically- competent and vocationally-skilled population contributing efficiently and optimally to employment as well as productivity of the state.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Yusuf Saleh, the commissioner said the provision of viable skills and entrepreneurship training to Nigerian youths was the key to a speedy recovery of the economy.
“The challenge of youth employment is not new, but rather a long-standing issue that requires a holistic and collaborative approach in bringing it the barest minimum.
” It is therefore important that we think critically in this summit on developing integrated youth employment strategies that addresses job creation, quality of jobs and inclusion: to be more emphatic, women inclusion,” Fakai said.
The commissioner urged youths participating in the summit to ensure that they take full advantage of the opportunity and continue to build on their gains from the summit.
Earlier, the President, Leadstar Interversity, Dr Godwin Amama, stated that the aim of the summit was to proffer inclusive sustainable solutions to the challenges of youth unemployment by equipping youth with vital knowledge and expertise to succeed in the economic environment.
According to him, collaborative financing for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) where resources and funding were shared between governments, private sector companies, and other stakeholders would support the development of TVET programs
He explained that the TVET benefits on the youths was enormous as it improved employability, enhance skills competency, increased productivity and better job prospects, among others .
He urged the government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize TVET development and invest in infrastructure and facilities, teacher-training and capacity building , industry partnership and collaboration, among others.
Yusuf Nasir, the Chief Executive Officer,Kad ICT Hub, said they partnered Leadstar Interversity to ensure that the drive to empower the youths was implemented.
According to him, the universities and polytechnics were not producing enough quality students that the industry required, adding that Nigeria needs to industrialise in order to become a digital economy.
Similarly, Daniel Makava, the Director, Consultancy and Extension Services Department of the Nigerian building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), stated that they were partnering the institute to empower and build the capacity of youth.
“We have noticed that in the construction industry people don’t pay attention to details,because of that there has been an influx of artisan from neighboring countries.
“NBRRI decided to go into training in this area to ensure our youth are certified to carry out this job professionally, “he said.
Meanwhile, some of the participants have expressed their gratitude over the summit, saying it was an eye-opener to a lot of opportunities.
Patience Nuhu, said she would want to build her capacity on fashion design and be certified as a fashion designer that can work globally.
On his part, Obiajulum Daniel, a teenager, said he would want to learn professional shoe making and stand out from the regular shoe makers he sees in his area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Leadstar Interversity is an Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship Development.(NAN)
