Politics
MALLAM Abubakar Fikpo, Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has called on Nigerian Youths, especially the undergraduates, to acquire skills that would fast track national development.
He gave the advice during a public lecture titled: “The Role of NDE in preparing Nigerian undergraduates for the lager society,” at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) on Thursday.
He said the challenge became imperative because in the 21st Century, an illiterate was not somebody who could not read or write, but somebody who could not avail himself of the opportunities of acquiring relevant skills for self-reliance.
According to him, anybody who chooses to act wisely, not to be an illiterate and willing to acquire skills for self-reliance, is welcome to the directorate for chance to acquire relevant skills for decent jobs.
“The white collar jobs are no more in Nigeria, so the undergraduate must take the challenge to train his or herself on a particular skill to have a decent job .
“For the fact that the transition from academia to the professional world is often challenging for many young graduates, one has to be deliberate about it.
“Thank God FUL like other universities, have Directorate of Enterpreneurship Studies and Skills Acquisition, where students pick on skills that could enable them to start something on graduating.
“A serious minded undergraduate will take this opportunity seriously in order to develop his or herself to start doing something and contribute to national development, ” he said.
Earlier, FUL’s Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, noted that in a rapidly changing world, the transition from academia to the professional world was often challenging for many young graduates.
But with the right guidance, support and opportunities, “our graduates can become effective contributors to society”.
“Luckily for us, the National Directorate of Employment plays a crucial role in this transition process.
“Through its various programs and initiatives, it aims to equip young Nigerians with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to thrive in the workforce and make meaningful contributions to the development of our nation,” he said.
Akinwumi described Fikpo as the person with extensive experience and expertise in the field and the perfect individual to shed light on the directorate’s efforts in preparing Nigerian undergraduates for the larger society.
He expressed the belief that collaboration between academic institutions and organizations like the NDE was essential in ensuring the holistic development of students.
“By working together, we can create a seamless transition for our graduates and empower them to excel in their chosen fields.
“Let us use this platform to foster dialogue, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing our youths in today’s society,” he advised. (NAN)
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-April 04, 2024 @ 16:51 GMT|
Tags: Mallam Abubakar Fikpo NDE Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi
