Entrepreneurial Skills Offer Ways Out of Poverty - University Don.

 

By Lucky Isibor.

A university don and lecturer in the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Prof. (Mrs.) Ethel Idialu has described the acquisition of enterpreneaural skills as an alrernative tool for fighting poververty plagueing our nation today adding that it's an essential element for improving the economic development of families who are in need.

Prof. Idialu stated this while delivering the Fourth edition of the Josemaria Escriva Foundation annual lecture titled, "Beyond Paper Qualification: Reinventing Enterpreneaural Skills As Alternative To Fighting Poverty".

She noted that the non availability of white collar jobs have led the youths to crime such as prostitution, fraud popularly referred to as Yahoo, irregular migration among others adding that a good paper qualification without skill cannot guarantee a good job in Nigeria today.

"A good paper qualification without skill and competencies cannot guarantee a good job in Nigeria today, so graduates should endeavour to equip themselves with salable skills that may not be related to the paper qualification they acquire."

While enumerating some of the skills people can acquire and start up a micro or small business to include tailoring and fashion design, decoration, cake making, digital marketing, haircut and hair making; Prof. Idialu called on Nigerians to bury the misconception about white collar jobs and handy work.

"Misconception about white-collar Jobs and handy work, for example, the perception of Technical skill acquisition as Jobs for uneducated, With the massive number of graduates each year without jobs to go into, there is serious competition for white-collar jobs. So it is up to these individuals who are not able to acquire white-collar jobs to help themselves by learning salable skills to generate some income. "

In his welcome address, the Chief Responsibility Officer, Josemaria Escriva Foundation, Dr. Jude Obasanmi said the annual lecture series provide opportunity to brainstorm on issues affecting the society and proffer solutions. Obasanmi noted that the frightening revelation by economic experts that the number of poor persons in Nigeria has will rise to 95.1 million necessitated the choice of this year's topic.

According to him, "the annual lecture series avail us with the opportunity to discuss issues affecting our community, reflect on our activities as well as use the medium to ask for more support, collaboration and partnership. 

"The choice of of this year's theme was necessitated by the current economic status of our dear country, Nigeria. Economic experts speculate that the number of poor persons in Nigeria may rise to 95.1 million 2022 as the country battles unemployment, rising cost of living among other socio-economic challenges."

In an opening remark, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Matthew Izibili noted that Josemaria Escriva Foundation is raising awareness on topical issues confronting the society and eulogised the Chief Responsibility Officer, Dr. Jude Obasanmi for his efforts.

"It may interest you to know that it has become part of the most cherished responsibilities of this Foundation to create the much needed awareness on issues, (community development, gender based issues/ sexuality, education, etc), be they either in potency or in actuality; but as far as it relates to the overall wellbeing of the society, the eagle eyes of the Chief Responsibility Officer, sights such and share same with us the Board for the needed approval for action."

Also speaking, chairman on the occasion, Hope Ezehi commended the humaniarian activities of the foundation and appealed to guests to make their contributions, no matter how small to enable them continue to serve the society.