Economy
A logistic firm, Transblue, has sought partnerships between the private and public sectors to bridge the gap between the academic world and the existing working environment.
Ajisafe, Managing Director, Transblue, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Transblue provides businesses with freight support, advisory services, and end-to-end compliance management services that expand product accessibility across Nigeria.
According to the managing director, the partnership between Transblue and QNET is to give Nigerians a unique opportunity to generate additional income.
Ajisafe quoted the Center for the study of the Economics of Africa (CSEA), as saying that the Nigerian labour market was characterised by a significant gap between the skills required by companies and the ones available in the market.
He also said that this had contributed, unfortunately, to the high youth unemployment rate in the country.
Ajisafe explained that collaborative efforts would provide solutions that address the soft skills gap, which had rendered many youths ineffective in the labour market.
While commenting on the prevailing challenge in employment, he added that although graduates complete their studies with technical knowledge, they still miss job opportunities because they cannot demonstrate the needed soft skills.
The managing director said: “Our education systems produce graduates with excellent grades, but a gap precludes them from career-defining jobs.
“Our graduates, sometimes, cannot demonstrate good communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, which are essential for employers.
“A recent report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) noted that Nigeria’s unemployment rate has risen from 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020 to 33 per cent, making it the second-highest rate on the global list.
“The report further highlights that over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s working-age population is younger than 34, pointing toward a need to empower this generation for employment and future proof against socio-economic challenges.”
Ajisafe noted that by 2050, Nigeria would have a population of over 300 million people, making it the third-most populous nation on earth.
He said that this effectively means that the number of individuals seeking employment would further increase.
The managing director said the youth were the driving force behind any society’s economic growth and technological innovation.
According to him, they also make up the critical masses, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria, who have the power to strengthen or weaken the fabric of society.
Ajisafe said QNET, a leading direct-selling company, had leveraged such partnerships, by collaborating with local experts and partners to address the challenges of financial know-how being experienced by young people.
He said that QNET recently collaborated with Transblue to launch its signature financial literacy programme, ‘FinGreen,’ aimed to develop healthy financial habits through education and training in the most vulnerable communities.
Ajisafe said the project hopes to empower young people to take charge of their future and lead better lives, including improving their employability skills to pursue opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
He noted that the FinGreen programme is a Financial Literacy For All (FLFA), in charge of developing training on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and other critical soft skills.
“The project is part of QNET’s overall corporate social responsibility initiative to Raise Yourself to Help Mankind (RYTHM). Hence empowering young people to be entrepreneurs will help create a better future for all.
“So far, over 500 young adults, through a peer-to-peer model in communities like Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ogun, and Oyo states, have received financial literacy training through the project with an extensive module on employability skills.
“FinGreen adds to existing government and other stakeholder initiatives as a collective effort toward empowering the youth for the job market.
“Through activities like The Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP) launched in 2016, the government of Nigeria has shown clear prioritisation of unemployment issues,” he said.
Ajisae said the NIYEAP served as a multi-stakeholder partnership to advance the implementation of youth-employment-related targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
He said it focused on digital skills, quality apprenticeships, green jobs, and the rural economy. (NAN)
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Tags: CSEA National Bureau of Statistics NIYEAP Transblue
