The incumbent administration has received the support of the International Labour Organisation in its endeavour to create more than two million digital jobs, with the aim of reducing the unemployment rate in the country.
During the World Youth Skills Day event in Abuja, Vanessa Phala, the ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, announced the organisation’s commitment.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future: Building Skills for Tomorrow’, Phala noted that the digital economy has become an integral part of Nigerians’ daily lives, shaping the industrial sector and creating more opportunities.
Emphasizing the youthful population of Nigeria, the country’s director highlighted the importance of equipping them with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital realm.
“We realised that the future is now and skills are needed. It is well known that Nigeria has a youth population with a vibrant energy that stands for the principle of transformative progression.
“However, to unlock Nigerian youths’ potential, we must invest in them, equip them with the right skills and create an enabling environment that enriches their talents.”
Speaking further, Phala said that “The ILO has supported the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to develop the Nigerian Youth Development Action Plan with a focus on entrepreneurship among others.
“To fulfill the potential of this digital era, we must ensure that our young people are not only technologically trained but must possess critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability skills to strive in a changing world.
In his opening address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said young people’s potential should be harnessed to catalyse transformation.
Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, OSGF, Nko Esuabana stated “Together, we have embarked on a collective endeavor to reach the skill gap and empower our youths in the green, digital and creative economy.
“The dialogue lies not only in addressing the challenges facing our young ones today but also in harnessing their potentials as catalysts for transformational change.”
