Federal government’s concerted effort to combat youth unemployment and equip unskilled Nigerians seemed to be gaining momentum as the leather works training programme has kicked off in Lagos.
The senior special assistant to the president on technical, vocational and entrepreneurship education (TVEE), Biola
Arogundade at the opening ceremony of the free leather works training for 100 trainees at Yikodeen Factory, Isolo, Lagos affirmed that part of the mandate of the federal government is to increase the number of skilled workers with the unemployed youths, as it tackles the surge in unemployment in Nigeria.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), youth unemployment rate in Nigeria averaged 23.57 percent from 2014 until 2023, reaching an all-time high of 53.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 and a record low of 6.90 percent in the first quarter of 2023.
Arogundade disclosed that currently at 15 percent, the agency is working to attain 50 percent low-skilled to semi-skilled workforce that will create a thriving economy as it aims to attain the 50 percent mark for skilled workers.
She buttressed that the training programme is about bringing people in the local communities in Lagos and across Nigeria to learn a skill in leather work, and shoe making that will unlock the doors to sustainable living.
“After the training, we will be employing 50 people to work directly in this factory, with the rest of the 50 will have access to a job collateral loan through government intervention from the Senior Special Adviser on jobs creation,” she stated.
The managing director of Yikodeen Footwear Ltd, Atunde Shamsudeen Olayinka stated that the partnership with the government is of great importance as the impact of the training will trickle down to the local community.
He, however, lamented that the challenges local manufacturers are facing persist with electricity shortfalls, Forex, and sourcing for local raw materials being a bane for manufacturers.
