8 vocational training that could reduce youth unemployment in Nigeria

 

 

Could vocational training be the solution to youth unemployment in Nigeria?

It is a fact that many youths in Nigeria are unemployed due to some basic factors affecting Nigeria’s economy. A research has made it known that the percentage of young people from age 15 to 35, without job is 55.4 percent, while unemployed graduates are about 25 millions. The country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari  argues otherwise. According to him, the total number of jobless Nigeria youth is just 20 million.

Whether the correct figure is 20 or 25 million, the fact remains that youth unemployment in Nigeria is too high. A state of affairs that is not good for the country, and even worse for the youths affected and their family.

Most unemployed youth tend to dream of a job with a large company or a government parastatals. These jobs do exist, but they can only take on a fraction of the youth in the job market. Instead of chasing an elusive job opportunity you are not likely to get any time soon. Why not think of starting your own business, be self sufficient and you may even become an employer?

Learn vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Vocational skills are the skills learned by the youth, which helps them to gain a good understanding of a skill or a trade. These skills equip them to work in a particular trade. They can then set up their own business practising that trade or work for a better established practitioner of that trade.
As you equipped youth with useful skills mentioned below, they are equipped to give back to his community, thereby helping the society as a whole to grow.

Here is a list of Eight vocational skills that an entrepreneurial youth can learn and turn to a prosperous business.

1.  Hair-styling

This is the act of decorating one’s hair with different hair- styling materials, such as using attachments, weavon, setting the hair, blowing the hair and so on. It could be plaiting of natural hair or adding wool to beautify it.

2. Fashion Designer.

This is the act of sewing clothes, which involve joining materials together to form different designs and shapes. This is potentially a lucrative and prestigious occupation.

3.  Make-up artist.

This profession is in demand for special occasions, such as when people are getting married or having other important events. Makeup artists are also in demand in Nollywood films. Makeup artists help women to style their gele, apart from doing makeup applied to the face.

4. Baking

Bakers do one of the most important jobs in the food industry. They know the right amount of flour, sugar, milk and any other ingredients required to bake some of the delicious food we eat. We have all eaten bread, cakes, chin-chin and doughnuts. Those are some of the foods we rely on the skills of a baker for.

5. Event planning.

Event planners are adept at organising events, such as conferences, birthdays, weeding and other ceremonies. It is the event planners job to ensure everything that is needed to make a special occasion happen with our a hitch, is in place.

6. Electrical equipment repair.

There is a huge demand for fixing broken electrical appliances such as cooker, refrigerator, hot plates, sockets, radios and a host of other electrical items. There appears to be a shortage of electrical repair businesses, so if you can learn to fix electrical appliances, you may have a business that will keep you employed.

7.  Cleaning services.

A good cleaning service provider helps his or her clients to clean their house or business premises. Part of the home cleaning business also spills into light gardening. Some of your clients may want you to look after inside as well as outside of their home or property.

8. Shoe repair.

Though they are called shoe makers, they seldom make new shoes. They however put life back into shoes that are falling apart. A good shoe repairer can upgrade into making shoes to order.

Conclusion

The above are some of the vocational opportunities available to young men and women. The youth should stop relying solely on their paper qualification, or expecting that because they have a degree, the only job that can take them off the unemployment statistics is a white collar job.

A creative youth, who takes up the opportunity that is out there, is one the society will accept and praise.