ASUU Strike: Yiaga Africa Director Urges Students To Acquire Skills

The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, has tasked Nigerian students to acquire vocational skills in order to be self reliant after graduating from school.

In an interview with newsmen in Abuja, Mr Itodo said that acquiring one or two skills was “a vital first step to entrepreneurship”.

He said students should go for skills that were in high demand, adding that it would insulate them from wasting valuable time searching for white collar jobs.

The Yiaga Africa director added that graduates who had already acquired skills should be empowered to start up businesses.

In his words, “Vocational skills are practical or first hand skills that help a person master a trade or a job. These skills may be obtained on the job or at a vocational school during vacations.

“A vocational school provides technical education to prepare people for work in a trade, craft, or profession.”

He said that students would be able to acquire vocational skills without much hassles.

“Choosing vocational educations is a decision that will shape an individual’s entire career,“ he said, adding that the current economic climate was highly competitive, with the number of degree-holders worldwide set to reach 300 million by 2030.

“These numbers have encouraged some to begin weighing their options in an attempt to stand out, by venturing into vocational skills while in school.”

Itodo said students have options of going through formal institutions or take online training, both of which are flexible.

He noted that vocational education will play vital role in the stability and security of Nigeria’s economy.

“The more the numbers of vocational skilled entrepreneurs, the more money there is to be made and kept within the economy, a reason why the youths who are tomorrow’s leaders should embark of these.

“It takes less time than a traditional four-year university to obtain a job with vocational skills and can be learned in a few months to two years at any vocational training institute around you,” he added.

Itodo also extended his advice to parents thereby saying that they should allow their children to acquire skills such as Arts and Crafts, Home Cleaning, Electrical Repairs, Event Planning, Makeup, Fashion Design and Hair Style, among others.