NPA boss urges more vocational training for youths to make them self-reliant

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hajiya Hadiza Usman, has called for provision of adequate vocational training for Nigerian youths to equip them with skills needed to be self employed.

Usman said this in a statement issued by her Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr Ibrahim Nasiru on Tuesday in Lagos.

Usman made the call, while speaking at a national discourse on youth employment organised by DAAR Communications Plc.

The NPA boss also called for the establishment of more vocational training institutions to accommodate many youths, who were willing to acquire skills that would make them self employed.

She said the youth contributed about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

“Youths constitute 70 per cent of the Nigerian population. That is why I am calling for the enactment of policies that will help them actualise their dreams.

“It is not possible for government to employ all youths, but government should provide policies and legal framework that can promote the manufacturing sector, which can provide employment for the youth,” she said.

Usman advised government to lend more support to the entertainment and film industry, citing the case of the U.S. where about 600 companies created employment for the population.

She also stressed the need for government to explore the sports sector of the economy, saying that militancy, like the Boko Haram were products of youth neglect.

According to Usman, the sports sector is an area that will provide veritable employment for the unemployed youths.

The event, which was tagged: “Youth Unemployment; a Time Bomb’’, was part of activities marking DAAR Awards 2017 and had Mrs Seinye Briggs as the keynote speaker and Prof. Akpan Ekpo as the Chairman.

The statement also said that Usman bagged an award for outstanding leadership in public sector, transparency and open budget system during the event.