We have come to an era where vocational education and skills training have been thrown out of the window.
Nobody wants to engage him or herself in skills training to earn a living, rather young men and women prefer looking for white collar jobs.
Skills training such as welding, carpentry, automobile, plumbering, electrical, bricklaying, tailoring and other related vocations are no doubt professions or trades that can sustain people economically through out their lives. It is disheartening to see able bodied young men roaming on the streets without making any effort to learn skills that will make them to live well.
Sadly, some of these young men are carrying guns for politicians and at the same time resorted to professional begging. How long will one continued to beg people for money before eating?
The bulk of Nigeria’s population is made up of the youths. Since the youths are not interested in involving themselves in professional trades that will sustain their lives and uplift the nation economically, thus Nigerians are witnessing increasing poverty day by day.
Without mincing words skills acquisition sustains the nation’s economy and reduces the rate of poverty.
Unequivocally, one of the causes of poverty is illiteracy/lack of education. Illiteracy impedes efforts to eradicate ignorance and promote the uptake of innovation.
Hence lack of skills education causes poverty in the country.
One of the basic solutions that can create a way out of poverty is: polic(ies) that will encourage skills training and vocational education. Policy makers must be given adequate attention to skills acquisition
According to Oyebamiji, M.A and Adekola, G in their book: “Fundamentals of Community Development in Nigeria” observed that vocational education or skills acquisition is one which favours the most efficient solution for mass advancement in welfare that makes one more financially buoyant, motivates one into further professional training, encourages one to establish one’s small business and be more productive.
It is the springboard to self-reliance and poverty alleviation in Nigeria. ###
Damiete West
08037502931
wdamiete@yahoo.com
