Gladness Gideon
A senior lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneurship Studies at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Dr. Vincent Paul, has urged unemployed graduates across the country to acquire relevant skills as a practical step toward overcoming Nigeria’s growing unemployment crisis.
Dr. Paul made the call on Wednesday during the inauguration ceremony of the National Executive Council and Trust Fund for Legacy Projects of the university’s alumni association, held in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Addressing the gathering, Paul emphasized that relying solely on white-collar jobs was no longer a viable strategy due to limited employment opportunities in the country. He stressed the need for Nigerian youths to take responsibility for their future by developing marketable skills and entrepreneurial capabilities.
“As a Nigerian graduate, it is very important to learn a skill as this will help you to set up your own business and start earning while searching for any job of your choice,” he said. “Skills have made many people employers of labour, so I urge the youths to take advantage of it.”
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The academic also appealed to political leaders to invest in youth empowerment through regular skill acquisition programmes, which he said would foster self-reliance, reduce dependency, and enhance national development.
Turning to the university’s alumni association, Dr. Paul urged the newly inaugurated executive members to focus on sustainability by launching initiatives that would create lasting value. He encouraged them to utilize the trust fund to support legacy projects, entrepreneurship programmes, and provide hope for underprivileged members of the association.
“To ensure that an association such as ours achieves any tangible goal, a strong financial base is of utmost importance,” he noted. “As members of NSUK Alumni, we are united not just by shared memories, but by a shared obligation to preserve our legacy, empower the next generation, and build enduring structures across borders.”
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated National President of the association, Nuhu Egya, expressed gratitude to members of the alumni body and the wider university community for the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to serve with integrity and to work tirelessly to move the association forward.