NGO to Nigerian Youths: Forget White-collar Jobs, Learn a Skill

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A non-profit initiative aimed at addressing contemporary social issues, Bilaad Development Trust, at the weekend urged Nigerian youths to engage in learning vocational skills to make them self-reliant, rather than waiting for non-existent white-collar opportunities.

The organisation stated this at the second edition of the social impact project of ‘GemHunt 2.0’, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The event featured young, dynamic, and promising entrepreneurs who the organisation said were not only determined to scale their existing business ideas, but have their eyes on the prize, courtesy of Bilaad.

Speaking at the event, a physically challenged entrepreneur focused on making leather footwear, Dorcas Benjamin, advised the people living with disabilities not to depend on begging.

She urged them to seek out opportunities to build capacity and make a meaningful impact.
Also speaking, an elated winner of the star prize, Elizabeth Omolabake, who came from Lagos to participate, said it was an opportunity to help her scale up her business.

“This has encouraged me to keep putting in the work, to keep proving that made-in-Nigeria products stand for quality,” she stated.
The co-coordinating Trustee for Bilaad Development Trust, Sadiq Abdullahi, said the group set up the platform primarily to give back to the society, listing the three focal areas as entrepreneurship, education and change advocacy.

Abdullahi, however, advised the young Nigerians to not rely on anyone to give them a job, adding: “aIf you spend your first six months and you don’t get a job, learn a skill.”