Anita Ogona
As the global community commemorates World Youth Skills Day today, I add my voice in raising awareness of the importance of investing in youth skills as a means of promoting employment and sustainable development.
With our predominantly youthful population, where more than half of the people are at their productive age, investing in youth skills will spur innovation and entrepreneurship that will result in the establishment of MSMEs which will catalyse economic growth and development in the nation.
As I have always maintained, small businesses, borne out of youth skills, innovation and entrepreneurship, contribute in different ways to the growth and development of so many countries, especially in exemplary comparable countries like; China, India, and Indonesia, to mention a few, which are large in population and have similar demographic features to Nigeria. It is their small businesses and their support for their youth skills, innovation and technology that are propelling their growth.
This day, therefore, reminds us, as leaders, to prioritize investment in youths through practical education, youth skills empowerment and support for innovation and entrepreneurship. This will aid our journey from consumption to production, reduce crime in society and drastically reduce unemployment. I also call on Nigerian youths to pursue learning, self-development and skills acquisition for growth.
We remain committed to investing in our youths as they remain the productive team through which we will build the New Nigeria which is even more POssible now more than ever before. -PO
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