The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday unveiled the party’s Enterprise -Skills Development Training (EDET) Programme for youths in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day training programme was organised by the Progressives National Youth Wing and the Office of the APC National Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel in Ikeja, Lagos.
Ganduje, who was represented by the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Mr Emma Eneukwu, said that the programme was to create a platform for learning, engagement, network and empowerment for youths ,to become productive.
He commended the national youth leader’s passion about Nigerian young population, saying he had always been concerned by the challenges facing the youths.
Emphasising the importance of skills acquisition, Ganduje lamented that the Nigerian school curriculum was mostly on theories and not based on practicals, to make graduates self-reliant.
“Look at countries like China and India, which have explosion of youth population, the school curriculum incorporates skills development and the children grow with them.
“Please, let us make Nigeria great by being productive .Let us not wait for the government to come and give us jobs, there is no job to give.
“Let us be the people that will give jobs to others. All of us need to assist the President to change the face of this country and we will do it by learning a skill.”
Earlier, the youth leader said that the party believed in the power of entrepreneurship as a tool to tackle unemployment and fight poverty.
According to him, entrepreneurship is a dynamic force in the global economy, driving innovation, creating solutions, and shaping the future of Nigeria.
He noted that Africa’s biggest challenges remained poverty, inequality and lack of access to education and unemployment.
Israel said that the number one duty of government is to improve life and well-being of the people.
“That is why we have come together to put this progressive enterprise skills development training programme to build the capacity of the next generation of entrepreneurs, business owners and to strengthen their capabilities.”he said.
He said after studying the youth wing of various ruling political parties in India, Ghana, Morocco, UK, Switzerland and others, he had learnt that political parties were beyond just elections vehicles.
“They are instruments for social liberation, empowerment and capacity building for the youth of their country, that is what is driving us at the National Youth Wing of APC in our four years strategic plan.
“We are talking of programmes and activities that we can do to impact lives of young people in our nation.
“There is no employment that can absorb all of the unemployed in our society, we need people to create jobs, and that is why we launch this EDET programme.
“The Enterprise -Skills Development Training (EDET) training programmes is to turn our young people from job seekers to job creators. it is to turn dreams to reality.
“We are giving them the right skills to be able to empower them on business management skills, entrepreneurship skills,soft skills and teach them how to raise funds for themselves,” Israel said.
He said that he had brought government agencies like SMIDAM, CAC, Bank of Industries and many others to connect with young entrepreneurs and start-ups.
According to him, about 2000 young entrepreneurs registered for the EDET training programme, and that the party plans to train no fewer than 20,000 before the end of the year nationwide.
He said participants would have the opportunity of meeting with experts, who would take them through the various aspects of running a business.
Israel said that there would be a quick competition after the five- day training programme ,at which start-ups with good business proposals could win up to N1 million.
“By this little act, we are going to make Nigeria great again and of course secure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027,” Israel said.
Speaking, the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Mr Hussaini Magaji (SAN), who commended APC’s youth wing for the idea, said the commission was also empowering young people and their businesses.
Magaji, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Sadiq Mohammed, urged participants to make the best use of the opportunity, assuring them of the commission’s support to get their businesses registered.
Also speaking, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, expressed worry about the high number of youths roaming the streets, saying “This kind of training is the way to go and we must hold the youths very dearly.”
