Skills Acquisition: Indispensable for Jobs Creation
What is Skills Acquisition?
Skills acquisition is one of the important pillars that assist many people in realizing their dreams; as well as assisting those who are not privileged to work with public; or private organizations with academic certificates and have a source of income. The importance of skill acquisition is similar to the importance of water to the human body. Lack of other sources of income is a major cause of bribery and corruption, particularly when salaries are not paid; workers will do anything to feed their families. Some graduates are unable to bear the burden of transporting their credentials to various agencies or ministries in search of employment; instead, they prefer to learn skills and become their own bosses.
Year after year, thousands of students graduate from secondary schools and higher institutions of learning; more than 60% of them seek a greener pasture by working in air-conditioned offices; earning large sums of money on a monthly basis, and enjoying whatever they desire; these fantasies are no longer possible as getting a government job has turned to looking for water in deserts under scorching heat.
Importance of Skills Acquisition
Skills improve employment opportunities, work effectiveness, and crime reduction in society. A self-employed person has the right to stay at home and relax; as much as he or she wants without being questioned by anyone in higher authority. Because of the experience gained, skills enable people to have better resource; and financial management, improved strategic planning, and crisis management in organizations.
In order to reduce the rate of unemployment and total reliance on government works; in 1987 National Directorate of Employment (NDE) was established; the directorate was mandated to deal with rising trend of unemployment through training people in various skills. An idle graduate tends to stimulates nothing but negative thoughts and ways to be rich in shortest time; those thoughts are stimulants to evil works. In the same vein, many successful businessmen and women whose names are heard globally are self-employed; this is in line with one proverb which says ‘one at hand is better than two in the bush’; meaning that skill that generates money for you daily need is better than certificate you are going here and there with seeking for lucrative jobs.
Skills as alternative source of income
It is difficult for a student who has been trained in one or more skills to have total reliance on money from parents before doing assignments, and it helps him or her acquire gadgets such as phones, laptops, and other devices that make learning easier. Most victims of criminal activities engage in them because they are bored; skills can make youths responsible, and crimes are seen as despicable no matter how much they can gain. Enrolling students in skills while studying reduces the burdens that parents bear if they do nothing, because skilled students are self-sufficient and pay without parental intervention.
However, if you want to succeed, you must find alternative sources of income, regardless of how little you may be earning; labor markets are overburdened with applications and vacancies. It’s better to get your hands dirty and fill your pockets than to wear clean clothes and beg a small amount from the same hawkers you laughed at.
On campuses, there are many students who have natural talents for getting things done perfectly or repairing devices; however, authorities must put them on track and harness such talents.
Skills acquisition should be made a mandatory subject for students in senior secondary schools and at various tertiary institutions, and the government should provide the necessary training materials. Technical and vocational devices, machines, and tools required for work after completing training should be provided free of charge; this would encourage others to enroll and become beneficiaries as well. Regular supervision of trained personnel is essential to ensure that they are using them wisely, and anyone found guilty of selling them should be dealt with decisively. Governments are still struggling to employ everyone, but training 7 out of 10 unemployed youths could drastically reduce crime because those trained would eventually influence the remaining three to be productive like them.
For this and much more Information relating to employability skills, employment opportunities, career advancement, and entrepreneurship development; Join our Telegram and WhatsApp groups, and also follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
