Youth
LAGOS State government on Thursday, June 7, challenged youths to acquire technical and vocational education to bridge the existing skills gap in different sectors of the economy.
Speaking at an interactive session on Advocacy for Technical Education in Ikeja, Omolara Erogbogbo, the executive secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, said the availability of technically compliant youths will amount to economic growth through industries.
Erogbogbo stressed the importance of technical and vocational education to the economy, saying that the country was yet to maximise potentials in youths as a result of the erroneous belief that technical schools were designed for school pushovers and drop-outs.
“The search for white collar jobs in this present age is very unrealistic. We should encourage our children, most especially youths to learn technical skills. Technical skills will thrive more in this present day economy provided that our industries have the personnel to improve productivity,” the executive secretary stated.
She said the need to empower youths with technical skills inspired the State government’s activities of providing job-related skills to prepare them for work-life experience and provide relative knowledge for students seeking admission to tertiary institutions.
According to her, skills acquisition remains the best way to create employment opportunities, alleviate poverty and stimulate economic growth in Lagos and the country at large.
She promised that the State government will continue to equip students and workers with the right skills towards improving vocational and technical skills for better career prospects and academic progression.
While noting that industries in Lagos lack enough technical personnel, the Executive Secretary urged parents, guardians and school leavers to embrace technical education as a sure bet for employment.
“We have limited spaces in the Universities, and every year the number of young school leavers roaming the streets keeps on increasing. We strongly believe that these promising youths have the potentials of becoming entrepreneurs and employers of labour in their own rights provided they cultivate the right attitude to technical education,” she emphasised.
Erogbogbo disclosed that in addition to the existing State Technical Colleges in Ikorodu, Ado-Soba, Agidingbi, Epe and Ikotun, work is also ongoing for the establishment of three additional colleges in Alimosho, Ibeju Lekki and Badagry areas of the State respectively.
– Jun. 8, 2018 @ 16:09 GMT |
Tags: LASG Challenges youths to bridge skills gap in economy
