Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, has assured participants at the ongoing Mindset Re-orientation and Employability Skills Training of direct employment either by potential employers or through self-employment.
The Commissioner, who spoke at the Mindset Re-orientation and Employability Skills Programme organized for 500 unemployed youths in the State, lamented the increasing rate of unemployment and described it as saddening and very disheartening.
She maintained that several interventions by the state government, especially with the establishment of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, are already bridging the gap between the employed and unemployed, adding that a change in the orientation of job seekers is also needed for them to attract the right job and also pursue their passion.
In her words, “The Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment has developed a series of initiatives and activities that would ensure that it meets up with its mandate of bridging the employability gap in the State. One of such initiatives is this “Mindset Re-orientation, Leadership and Employability Skills Programme” for unemployed youths.’’
According to her, the dearth of white collar job is obvious in the country and it is necessary to re-orientate the mind of youths to be flexible towards growth mindset and the realities of the dynamic labour market as well as modify their behaviour.
Akinbile-Yusuf said that the government is putting all parameters in place to put the unemployment rate in the state under control. “We actually planned to engage 500 participants under this initiative but I was surprised to see over one thousand participants here. This does not mean that our approach to job creation is not yielding the expected outcome but it is evident that more people are coming into Lagos for greener pasture on a daily basis”.
“It is our intention to properly channel the passion and energy of unemployed graduates towards self-reliant skills outside white collar job, enhance the leadership and employability skills of the youths in recognition of the gap between skills possessed by applicants and needed by employers, considering the huge mismatch in the labour market and also facilitate meeting and relationship between employers and unemployed youths in the State”, the Commissioner added.
She explained further that the Ministry championed the programme as a way of bringing job seekers closer to experienced employers who are interested in recruiting qualified hands, stressing that at the end of the training and re-orientation, over 80% of the participants would be fixed for direct employment or empowered to start their personal businesses.
Mr. Tonye Bodam, Head of Talent Management of Airtel, Nigeria advised job seekers to develop positive attitudes, noting that the right attitude plays a great role in securing employment and in excelling in an individual endeavour.
He highlighted some of the attributes that are indispensable for job seekers to include problem-solving, communication, initiative, self-management and acquiring technological skills.
The Special Guest Speaker, Mr. Oluwatosin Oyin-Jolayemi M.D Daily Need advised the graduates to think creatively and stride to make difference in their communities by turning their passion into a profit-making venture
