Lawmaker restates commitment to shaping C’River youths

The lawmaker representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani federal constituency and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services, Honourable Bassey Akiba, has reaffirmed his dedication to utilising the transformative impact of skills training to influence the future of both young individuals and communities.

Honourable Akiba made the remark on the occasion of the 2024 World Youth Skills Day with the theme: ‘Youth skills for peace and development.’

“Empowering young people with a diverse set of skills is essential for their personal growth and future employability. Youth skills encompass both technical expertise and transferable skills such as communication, collaboration and problem-solving.

“Encouraging young individuals to engage in skill-building activities through internships, apprenticeships, vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes can enhance their employability prospects and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the society,” he said.

The lawmaker emphasised that advocacy for youth skills is a responsibility that falls upon various stakeholders, including governments, educational institutions, businesses and civil societies.

He added that governments must allocate adequate resources to educational initiatives, ensure equitable access to quality education and promote skill development programmes.

Akiba highlighted the critical role of youth skills in promoting peace and development, just as he noted that young people are the key drivers of progress and so, equipping them with the skills necessary to succeed is crucial for a brighter future.

“By fostering these skills, we can empower the youth to become agents of peace and development, driving positive change in their communities and the world at large. We will continue to leverage transformative power of skills development in shaping the future of young people and societies,” Akiba said.

World Youth Skills Day, celebrated annually on July 15, aims to raise awareness about the importance of developing skills among young people for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship opportunities globally.

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