*Vacancies still exist in several sectors of the national economy that either could not be filled by Nigerians because of the lack of requisite skills or were being filled by foreigners, says Sir Joseph Ari, Director-General of ITF

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In regard to festering poverty and high rate of youth unemployment with their attendant socio-economic effects on the entire population, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has explained major factors responsible for the negative development in the Nigerian economy.

ConsumerConnect learnt Sir Joseph Ari, Director-General of ITF, has identified lack of requisite skills as the major reason why over 23 million young Nigerians cannot fit into job vacancies in different sectors of the country’s economy.

Ari made this observation Thursday, July 14, 2022, in Abuja, FCT, at the Fund’s second national skills summit, report said.

The conference had the theme: “Institutionalising Apprenticeship and Traineeship for National Development.”

The ITF Director-General stated: “The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Q4 2020 Report on Labour Force Statistics, Unemployment and Underemployment showed that the number of unemployed persons in the economically active or working age was 122,049,400.

“Out of this number, 69,675,468 were willing to work, but only 46,488,079 were in paid employment.”

Aro also said: “What could be inferred from the survey was that over 23 million Nigerians that were perhaps qualified and willing to work were without jobs, which also showed the unemployment rate among the youths (15 to 35 years).”

Hoe further explained: “A skills gap assessment of six priority sectors of the national economy conducted by the ITF in collaboration with the United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO) revealed that rather than the absence of jobs, vacancies still exist in several sectors of the national economy that either could not be filled by Nigerians because of the lack of requisite skills or were being filled by foreigners.”

According to him, through the national industrial skills training for youths, women and physically challenged and other empowerment programmes, ITF had trained and empowered thousands of Nigerians in different sectors of the economy.

He as well stated the 2022  summit would focus on deliberations to institutionalise apprenticeship in tackling Nigeria’s rising unemployment.

Earlier in her address on the occasion, Amb Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, said the summit was relevant to discuss the challenges and prospects of apprenticeship in creating employment opportunities in the West African country.