The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali
Pantami has said that Nigeria’s major problem is the unemployability of
graduates in the country.
He urged education institutions to focus more on developing
talents rather than churning certificates.
Pantami made the remark while delivering his goodwill
message at the prize presentation ceremony of the Katsina National Talent Hunt
Challenge, held in Katsina, on Tuesday.
In his words: “I always tell you, that our major challenge
in Nigeria today is not unemployment but rather it is more of unemployability.
“Why I said so is this, there are many job opportunities but
most of our youths with certificates, like my humble self, if you employ them,
they will not be able to do the work you have employed them to do.
“There are many jobs in technical engineering, road
construction, ICT, oil and gas, but you will discover that on a daily basis,
foreigners are coming into the country to do the technical job for us in most
sectors.”
According to Pantami, there is a need for a paradigm shift
in the mindset of graduates in the country from going after government
employment to entrepreneurship.
“The only way we will be able to improve our economy is by
addressing the issue of unemployment and unemployability, giving more priority
and preference to the youths that have brilliant ideas and are willing to be
self-reliant and in turn, they will be able to employ others,” he said.
He also urged government at all levels and well meaning
individuals “to focus more on identifying our young people, giving them all the
necessary support they need, so as to create more jobs and be able to bring a
paradigm shift, with which we would be producing potential job providers
instead of potential job seekers.”
He said it would go a long way in not only creating more job
opportunities but addressing problems of unemployment and by extension, solving
the challenges bedeviling the country.
Speaking during the occasion, the State Governor, Aminu
Masari said the objective of the competition was to encourage innovations and
develop the potential talents of Katsina youths and the country at large.
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