Nigerian youths have been urged to imbibe the culture of “employability development”.
Former Kokodiagbene youth leader and the Director, Brakins Resources, Mr Kennedy Brake gave this advice in Warri, Delta State, while addressing some graduate youths who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Ekpan.
According to him, “the core problem of the rising unemployment crisis in Nigeria is not solely caused by lack of employment opportunities but lack of employability development by 99 percent of today’s graduates.
“What is employability development? It is development of soft generic skills that are necessary for getting, keeping and being successful in any employment sector. These skills and attitudes enable the prospective employee to get along with their colleagues, to make critical decisions, solve problem, develop respect and ultimately become a strong representative for an organisation.
“99 percent of today graduates are not employable in any industry because they completely lack employability skills and these skills are frequently mentioned in the media that are lacking in graduates. And graduates take cognizance of this problem to refine themselves to be employable.”
The emphasis in Nigeria is so much on the paper that a first class genius (without his certificates) is likely to be waived aside and a world class fool chosen because he/she has some papers!
To really move forward as a nation, employers should start asking questions that seek to evaluate an applicant’s worth besides their qualification…only then will this suggestion work.
Or else, all is talk…
Always,
Terungwa