By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
Sokoto State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Honourable Bashir Usman Gorou, has said that the time has come for the Nigerian youths to dedicate themselves to job creation rather than waiting to be employed.
Speaking in a goodwill message at the ongoing 5- Day Start Your Own Business (SYOB) workshop for 50 graduates organized by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Sokoto State, Bahir Gorou, affirmed that, self-employment has proven to be the best option for reducing unemployment.
"Starting your own business is the best way to go. The time to wait for white-collar jobs is long gone. Take a look at the number of graduates from our higher institutions every year, vis-a-vis the number that gets employed, you will realise that there is a very wide margin.
"Therefore, self-employment is the best way to survive in this present generation of gross unemployment. It's my honest appeal to all of you, the fortunate participants to concentrate and utilize this opportunity very well".
The commissioner also disclosed that empowering youths is among the core targets of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led administration in Sokoto state. According to him, this was the principal reason the governor in his magnanimity chose to appoint a youth from among them as a commissioner that will listen to their appeals.
On her part, Sokoto State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs. Eunice Danmalam, who is represented by the DG of NDE, Malam Abubakar Fipko, said the 5-day training will enable participants to, once again, witness one of the statutory mandates of the NDE, which is employment creation.
Fikpo said, "Unemployment is one of the serious social problems facing our country now. It has been closely associated with increased crime levels and other social vices in society".
The DG further highlighted that the 5-day SYOB training will help inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths, enhance their competence in writing good and bankable feasibility report that will assist them to secure loans from the government and or financial institutions, as well as help to upgrade the capacity of participants towards starting and also manage their enterprises successfully.
Speaking earlier, the resource person, Dr. Umar Abdullah Abbot, said changing mindset towards owning self businesses is one of the greatest starting points towards managing SMEs.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Malam Nura Mohammed, thanked the federal and Sokoto State government for their continued support for all the unemployed Nigerians, just as he appealed to the Sokoto State government to work out accessible loan facilities for youths in the State. NNL.
