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FG, NECA Move to Optimise Job Creation via Modern Skill Acquisition
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Federal government and Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA) yesterday launched an initiative that was designed to help unemployed Nigerians acquire critical skills needed for today’s jobs.
Speaking at the flag-off of the 2024 Abuja Job Fair jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and NECA with the support of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) programme, Centres for Migration and Development (ZME) and the Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi said the platform was for empowerment and skill development.
He said the 2024 Abuja Job Fair placed a strong emphasis on equipping job seekers with these critical skills, “ensuring they are prepared not just for today’s opportunities but for the challenges and innovations of tomorrow”.
The minister said the Initiative was meant to provide the vital support that ensures that the job seekers were empowered with right connections that are meaningful and transformative.
“Through this event, we aim to go beyond the conventional job fair experience. This is not just a space to connect job seekers with employers, it is a platform for empowerment and skill development.
“During this Fair, participants will undergo intensive training in soft skills. which is an essential component of employability in any field. The ability to communicate effectively, adapt to change, collaborate with others, and think critically are just as important as technical expertise in today’s dynamic work environment.
“Participants will also have the opportunity to engage directly with potential employers, and learn from the experiences of successful Individuals who once stood where they are today,” he said.
Dingyadi said that federal government is poised and committed to not only tackling the symptoms of joblessness but addressing its root causes by fostering a culture of skill development, innovation, and sustainability.
NECA DG represented by Mrs. Adenike Adebayo Ajala said that the organisation has been in the forefront of development of technical and vocational skills among Nigerians in the past 13 years.
She said that NECA is planning to set up a digital academy in Abuja by next year where youths will be equipped with digital skills.
Representative of the German Government, Dr. Karen Jansen said the government has, through several collaborative engagements with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, been able to empower Nigerians with digital skills and technology innovations.
On her part, Migration Specialist at Embassy of Switzerland, Ojoma Ali said that acquisition of digital skill is vital for employment in today’s modern world.
