THE Imo state government has advised youths in the state to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable alternative to white-collar jobs.
Mr Rex Okoro, the Special Adviser to Gov. Emeka Ihedioha, on Youths’ Affairs, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Monday.
Okoro, who disclosed that the state government had begun the training of over 200 youths in agriculture, noted that entrepreneurial skills had overtaken the labour market as white-collar jobs were fast diminishing.
“Over 200 youths have been dispatched to Nasarawa State for training in various aspects of agriculture. This is because we realized that there were no white-collar jobs to serve the employment needs of our teeming youths.
“Entrepreneurship is the way forward. It has produced millionaires such as Aliko Dangote and Innoson Motors among others.
“These entrepreneurs never waited for white-collar jobs; they got self-employed and self-reliant and that is what we want for our youths,’’ he said.
Okoro also called on parents to encourage their children who are in school to learn entrepreneurial skills while urging youths to utilize the opportunities presented before them to develop themselves into useful citizens.
According to him, school years form part of the best years of the life of an individual and must be properly utilized to equip oneself for the future.
He further noted that joblessness could expose youths to activities leading to cultism and drug abuse hence keeping busy with skills acquisition would distract them from such social vices.
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