Unemployment: 50 students trained in technical, soft skills

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2 years ago

As part of efforts aimed at addressing the trend of unemployment in the country, 50 undergraduates have been trained in advanced soft skills and in-demand technical skills, including digital marketing, UI/UX design and product management skills.

The eight-week training, which was organised by the Economic Empowerment Team of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) in Lagos State, was designed and implemented by five social impact leaders –Goodness Nwachukwu, Allen Abu, Grace Eyiolawi, Adedoyin Shittu and Abiodun Oyeniran.

The programme was organised following a survey of 67 Nigerian employers and recruiters that assessed graduates’ preparedness and employability in the marketplace.

The survey identified a common skills gap in job candidates, including communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, work ethic, growth mindset, and leadership, adding that university graduates often encounter difficulties in finding employment due to the lack of practical experience and sought-after skills demanded by employers, resulting in a rise in youth unemployment in Nigeria.

A statement by the organisers further noted that with the growing concern over youth unemployment in Nigeria occasioned by the projected unemployment rate of 33% in 2022, many employers have expressed their observations that a significant number of graduates lack the necessary competencies to thrive in the global marketplace.

“To address this human capital gap in the Nigerian market, the WeYouth Career Tech Accelerator Project was launched. This initiative empowers undergraduates with essential soft skills and in-demand technical skills through fully funded training programmes.

“The programme encompasses an intensive orientation, track-based training, mentorship, community engagement, and internship opportunities to ensure participants are well-prepared for the workplace.

“The kick-off phase of the project took place on Saturday, April 1, 2023, with an orientation event titled “Future Proof Your Career.” Esteemed professionals in the tech industry, including Fifi Edem from Entry Level, Praise Ifetogun from Studentpreneur, and Samuel Akintunde from Global Techie Initiative, facilitated empowering sessions on Technical Skills that can Future proof your career & How to Learn them, Gaining Power Skills: A soft-skill guide for Career Relevance, and The Tech Industry LittleSecret: Approach to Thriving in Tech as A Newbie.

“Following the orientation, applicants were interviewed and selected for the training phase of the WeYouth Career Tech Accelerator Programme in Product Design (UI/UX), Product Management, and Digital Marketing. The training partner, Rubies Technologies, a social enterprise dedicated to equipping Africans with emerging technological and digital skills for global relevance, conducted the training process,” the statement read.

The statement added that the participating undergraduates excelled in their respective learning tracks, adding that Iruafemi Olohitai Alexandra, who emerged from the WeYouth Career Tech Accelerator Programme, was rewarded with an internship opportunity by one of the CYFI executives.

It also noted that five outstanding students –two product designers, two product managers and one digital marketer– were awarded paid internships for eight weeks to mark their exceptional progress, commitment to growth and reward their consistency in the programme.

The trainees, comprising product managers, product designers, and digital/growth marketers were organised into teams and are currently collaborating to develop, design, and market a money lending webapp using PiggyVest as a case study.

“The experience so far has been awesome. The classes were well-delivered and highly relevant,” expressed Samuel Ajayi, a Product Management fellow.

The statement added that the programme was supported by the United States Consulate General, which sponsored the transition of these undergraduates into the tech industry.

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