As part of efforts to eradicate the scourge of unemployment and youth restiveness in Nigeria, Fountain Initiative for Social Development [FISD], has recently advocated empowerment of youths to promote self-reliance and wealth creation through skills acquisition.
The programme which is the foundation’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives is targeted at creating a new breed of entrepreneurs among Nigeria’s youth population.
FISD Enterprises Academy Programmes Manager, Emeka Okonta, who made the remark at a forum in Lagos, disclosed that trainees have access to mentorship and internship programmes, and grant support’s that have been made available to trainees at the end of the duration.
He said entrepreneurial development through strategic education will advance the economy of the nation, reduce unemployment and provide financial returns to support trainees’ interest like plumbing, beading making, shoe-making interior and soft furniture, machine knitting, hair- making and make-up among others.
Okonta observed that Nigerian youths are only exposed to theoretical education without, practical entrepreneurship, vocational and skill acquisition training.
He said “We want to create a positive mind-set among them, shifting them from paid -labour mentality to business owners and employers.” He also maintained that trainees have opportunity to benefit from industrial expenses, internship /shadow entrepreneurship, access to funds, tremendous employability advantage, membership of enterprises network and free domain Name and web design among others.
According to him, FISD has provided support for youths and adults seeking to build careers or becoming self-employed by giving practical technical training in a variety of key vocations.
Reiterating the non- government organization’s commitment to making youths self-reliant, he pointed out unemployment persists, because young people have been denied of opportunities to grow their passion into thriving business.
Programme Manager FISD Vocational Training Centre, LekanAdeleke, disclosed that Fountain Initiative for Social Development [FISD] has empowered hundreds of young Nigerians since inception to reduce employment through vocational training such as tailoring, baking, weaving, beauty and others that are in high demand.
He said youths should be educated in skills of their choices, even while still in the higher institutions to enable them to be self -employed and add value to humanity.
Executive Director, Fountain Initiative for Social Development, FolaKudehinbu, advised Government to leave vocational training for Individuals and private organizations but should concentrate more on governance, economic and social development.
Source: The Guardian
