FIIRO Boss tasks youths on employment creation

Youths have been urged to deploy their energies towards productive ventures that can enhance the socio-economic development of their communities rather than engaging in destructive tendencies that will not bring glory to them and their mother land

This advice was given in Lagos by the Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, (FIIRO), Gloria Elemo on the occasion of a day empowerment forum held by Ubulu-Uku Youths Association (UYA), Lagos Chapter.

Elemo who was the Chairman of the occasion remarked that Nigerian youths are facing a precarious situation, with a high unemployment rate but however stated that such a situation should not warrant them taking to undignified social vices.

She said government has been trying to reduce unemployment in the land and organizations such as FIIRO which she heads, is committed to boosting research and development that will create job opportunities for the youths.

The special day themed ‘New Growth Agenda for Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation in Anioma’ also featured the unveiling of the community’s website: designed to enhance the quality and availability of information to members as well as showcase Ubulu-Uku’s development initiatives in Anioma.

A communique was issued at the end of the event which attracted illustrious sons and daughters of Anioma from all works of life.

President of UYA, Ben Iyiegbuniwe in his welcome address described the forum as apt saying it will afford the youths the opportunity, to engage strategically with key stakeholders from the community.

Keynote speaker for the forum and notable scholar at the Lagos Business School, Chris Ogbechie identified poor quality of education, unemployment and low level of economic empowerment as critical issues affecting the youth in Nigeria.

He urged the Ubulu-Uku youths to change their value system, by spending and investing time in sound education and skills acquisition, which will enable them to be competitive and industrious in the Nigerian and global economy.

In a communique issued by UYA, they agreed though there are  enormous potentials among them to become great leaders, there is need for a   ‘change of values’ among the youths to achieve the desired results.

They identified five sectors that Ubulu-Uku youths can harness as it provides them with interesting agenda for economic growth and development to be Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Entertainment, Sports, Hospitality, Agriculture and Agribusiness.

Focusing on areas the youths with great potentials, the communique stated, ‘Ubulu-Uku is known for agricultural products such as products-palm oil, cassava, yam etc. These potentials can be explored for entrepreneurship. Another area that can be explored by the youths is ‘Event Management.

These areas to explore cannot come at a better time than now as the era of reshaping CVs for white-collar jobs are gradually fading away: now is the time to think of how to create jobs.

There exist the need to tap into the business of trade and retail, an area which has long been neglected by youths for greater entrepreneurship and development in Ubulu-Uku. More importantly, Ubulu-Uku youths should fully embrace entrepreneurship and tap into various innovative programs for empowerment. These programs include Federal Government’s SURE-P graduate program, FIIRO investment initiatives, etc.

There is also the need to reposition Ubulu Uku both economically and politically. The business of Politics is for youths that aspire for LEADERSHIP. Youths need to aspire in this area which is still conceived as for drop-outs’.