Why Millions Of Nigerian Youths Are Unemployed – Buhari Govt

The Federal government has revealed the reason millions of Nigerian graduates do not have jobs.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arch. Sonny Echono, spoke on the unemployment rate in the country at a National Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET on Thursday in Abuja.

He revealed that the reason for jobless youths in the country was because they lacked the skill capacity to get and keep a job.

He also made it clear that the federal and state government have made a great effort to reverse the situation by establishing universities of technology, polytechnics and college of education to help in acquiring market-relevant skills.

He said: “Most of the graduates produced in various universities of technology, polytechnics, colleges of education (Technical) and technical colleges nationwide do not have specific skills required for the job market (market-relevant skills).

“The situation results to having millions of Nigerian graduates that are unemployed,”

“Government at all level has been making frantic efforts to equip the youths by establishing technical colleges, polytechnics, mono-technics, Vocational Enterprise Institutions (VEIs) and Innovation Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) and Model Skills Training Centers (MSTC) for equipping youths/learners with technical and vocational skills through formal and non-formal channels  across the states of the federation.

“main focus of this conference is to develop synergy among the stakeholders of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria through policy and legislative options which will serve as a foundation for (TVET) development, coordination and effective implementation in Nigeria.

“There is no doubt that there is an epic gap between the skilled manpower required and that which is currently available.

“This initiative is highly welcomed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as it will further enhance the achievement of this Administration's ‘Change mantra' through an effective manpower  development  with a viable skill acquisition programme  specifically   in areas of technology, and  other  aspects of resourcefulness to enhance national development; hence the establishment of Skill Training Centers (STCs) especially now that government is making comprehensive efforts in youths skill capacity building through investment in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

“We sincerely hope that this will create a window opportunity for public and private establishments to further support and promote the development of TVET.”