With the high demand for skills lately, it is safe to say that skill is very important in the life of every human. It might interest you to know that many technicians who never saw the four walls of a university earn more than university graduates. Lately, both graduates and undergraduates now understand that not only is acquiring a certificate important, but also acquiring a skill. With the high rate of unemployment and other social vices that has ravaged the country, the government needs to organize skill acquisition programs.
Not only will it lead to the economic growth of the country, it will curb the rate of social vices in the country because a lot of youths will be actively engaged. One of the major Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) which Nigeria aimed to achieve in 2015 was the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger with the target of encouraging the proportion of people who earn less than a dollar a day to engage in skills acquisition. A lot of youths desire to learn one skill or the other but lack the resources to enroll in such programs. This is where the government comes in.
They should ensure to always organize skill acquisition programs where a lot of youths don’t have to worry about the fee for enrollment. The youths engage in such programs and learn any skill of their choice. These programs will help them to become self-dependent and earn a proper living which will make them shun any negative act in society.
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The skill acquisition program is a very effective tool for eradicating extremes of poverty and hunger because it will pave the way for employment among unemployed youths and also create an avenue for wealth creation that would bring about self-sufficiency and reliance in contributing to the growth of the economy.
Industries are often constructed in different parts of the country and many of these industries require skilled and well-trained workers. With the empowerment of a lot of youths through skill acquisition programs, they will always be actively engaged. Any country that is hell-bent on development should ensure that the youths are well empowered. The youths are where the strength of a country lies because they are vibrant and energetic to take on any task. Asides from the creation of skill acquisition programs the government should ensure that there is an adequate establishment of skill acquisition centers in all states in Nigeria.
There is also the need to set up vocational centers where useful skills will be taught and practiced. Curriculum in schools should also include vocational courses where students get to learn not only how to read and write, but also how to engage themselves with the necessary skills in case jobs are not forthcoming. In nation-building, although the government actively has a role to play, but then, both non-governmental agencies and wealthy individuals can join hands on deck to ensure that the poverty level is drastically reduced by organizing skill acquisition programs.
Skill acquisition is very essential because it contributes to the development of the nation’s human capital. The productive capacity of any nation depends solely on the ability of that nation to recognize the ability of its manpower. Skills one acquires will aid in the development of the individual and the nation in particular. One of the goals of skills empowerment programs is the acquisition of appropriate skills and the development of mental, physical, and social abilities and competencies as tools for the individual to live and contribute to the development of his society. In Nigeria today, there is a need for skilled personnel who will be enterprising and self-reliant.
There is also the need for skilled people who can understand and adapt to changes in the increasing complexity of technology. People who can apply scientific knowledge to the improvement and as a solution to environmental challenges for the use and conveniences of man are also needed. Skill acquisition and empowerment programs act as catalysts to developing creativity and innovation in youth, hence, adding positive values to the economic condition of a country.